Boosting CO2-to-C2H4 electrocatalysis on Cu2O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells

Chen Qin; TangRui Li; Gevindu Masakorala; ChengJie Zhi; HongXiang Huang; Chen Zhou; Xue Wang; Bo Shen; Jian-Rong Zhang; Yang Zhou; Charitha Thambiliyagodage; Wenlei Zhu

doi:10.1039/d6cc01782g

Boosting CO₂-to-C₂H₄ electrocatalysis on Cu₂O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells

Chen Qin (Co-first Author)
, TangRui Li (Co-first Author)
, Gevindu Masakorala (Co-first Author)
, ChengJie Zhi
, HongXiang Huang
, Chen Zhou
, Xue Wang
, Bo Shen
, Jian-Rong Zhang
, Yang Zhou^*
, Charitha Thambiliyagodage^*
, Wenlei Zhu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This study presents a sustainable strategy to boost CO₂-to-C₂H₄ conversion by constructing Cu–C interfaces using Cu₂O nanospheres supported on porous carbon derived from waste coconut shells. The Cu₂O–10mgC catalyst achieves a 4-fold increase in FE(C₂H₄) compared with Cu₂O and maintains >40% selectivity for 45 h. In situ spectra reveal enhanced *CO_LFB coverage, confirming that oxygen-rich functional groups at the Cu–C interface promote C–C coupling. This work demonstrates both the catalytic and economic feasibility of waste-derived carbon supports for efficient CO₂-to-C₂H₄ conversion.
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2026

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	10482-10486
Number of pages	5
Journal	Chemical Communications
Volume	62
Issue number	41
Online published	1 May 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d6cc01782g
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2026

Funding

W. Z. would like to acknowledge the support from the State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science (SKLACLS2503), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22176086), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (021114380222 and 021114380214), and the Research Funds from Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling of Nanjing University. Charitha Thambiliyagodage is thankful for the research grant awarded by the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Research Grant (No. PVC(R&I)/RG/2025/2).

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@article{2daa178d236e456aa40cda5497a93ed1,

title = "Boosting CO2-to-C2H4 electrocatalysis on Cu2O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells",

abstract = "This study presents a sustainable strategy to boost CO2-to-C2H4 conversion by constructing Cu–C interfaces using Cu2O nanospheres supported on porous carbon derived from waste coconut shells. The Cu2O–10mgC catalyst achieves a 4-fold increase in FE(C2H4) compared with Cu2O and maintains >40\% selectivity for 45 h. In situ spectra reveal enhanced *COLFB coverage, confirming that oxygen-rich functional groups at the Cu–C interface promote C–C coupling. This work demonstrates both the catalytic and economic feasibility of waste-derived carbon supports for efficient CO2-to-C2H4 conversion. {\textcopyright} The Royal Society of Chemistry 2026",

author = "Chen Qin and TangRui Li and Gevindu Masakorala and ChengJie Zhi and HongXiang Huang and Chen Zhou and Xue Wang and Bo Shen and Jian-Rong Zhang and Yang Zhou and Charitha Thambiliyagodage and Wenlei Zhu",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1039/d6cc01782g",

language = "English",

volume = "62",

pages = "10482--10486",

journal = "Chemical Communications",

issn = "1359-7345",

publisher = "Royal Society of Chemistry",

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}

Boosting CO₂-to-C₂H₄ electrocatalysis on Cu₂O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells. / Qin, Chen (Co-first Author); Li, TangRui (Co-first Author); Masakorala, Gevindu (Co-first Author) et al.
In: Chemical Communications, Vol. 62, No. 41, 28.05.2026, p. 10482-10486.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Boosting CO2-to-C2H4 electrocatalysis on Cu2O with waste-derived porous carbon from coconut shells

AU - Qin, Chen

AU - Li, TangRui

AU - Masakorala, Gevindu

AU - Zhi, ChengJie

AU - Huang, HongXiang

AU - Zhou, Chen

AU - Wang, Xue

AU - Shen, Bo

AU - Zhang, Jian-Rong

AU - Zhou, Yang

AU - Thambiliyagodage, Charitha

AU - Zhu, Wenlei

PY - 2026/5/28

Y1 - 2026/5/28

N2 - This study presents a sustainable strategy to boost CO2-to-C2H4 conversion by constructing Cu–C interfaces using Cu2O nanospheres supported on porous carbon derived from waste coconut shells. The Cu2O–10mgC catalyst achieves a 4-fold increase in FE(C2H4) compared with Cu2O and maintains >40% selectivity for 45 h. In situ spectra reveal enhanced *COLFB coverage, confirming that oxygen-rich functional groups at the Cu–C interface promote C–C coupling. This work demonstrates both the catalytic and economic feasibility of waste-derived carbon supports for efficient CO2-to-C2H4 conversion. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2026

AB - This study presents a sustainable strategy to boost CO2-to-C2H4 conversion by constructing Cu–C interfaces using Cu2O nanospheres supported on porous carbon derived from waste coconut shells. The Cu2O–10mgC catalyst achieves a 4-fold increase in FE(C2H4) compared with Cu2O and maintains >40% selectivity for 45 h. In situ spectra reveal enhanced *COLFB coverage, confirming that oxygen-rich functional groups at the Cu–C interface promote C–C coupling. This work demonstrates both the catalytic and economic feasibility of waste-derived carbon supports for efficient CO2-to-C2H4 conversion. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2026

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UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001762340900001

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038437042

U2 - 10.1039/d6cc01782g

DO - 10.1039/d6cc01782g

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1359-7345

VL - 62

SP - 10482

EP - 10486

JO - Chemical Communications

JF - Chemical Communications

IS - 41

ER -