AB Initio Calculations of CU_N@Graphene (0001) Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic Applications

Substitution of fossil-based chemical processes by the combination of electrochemical reactions driven by sources of renewable energy and parallel use of H₂O and CO₂ to produce carbon and hydrogen, respectively, can serve as direct synthesis of bulk chemicals and fuels. We plan to design and develop a prototype of electrochemical reactor combining cathodic CO₂-reduction to ethylene and anodic H₂O oxidation to hydrogen peroxide. We perform ab initio calculations on the atomistic 2D graphene-based models with attached Cu atoms foreseen for dissociation of CO₂ and H₂O containing complexes, electronic properties of which are described taking into account elemental electrocatalytical reaction steps. The applicability of the model nanostructures for computer simulation on electrical conductivity of charged Cu_n/graphene (0001) surface is also reported.