ABSTRACT Although current gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) meet many performance requirements for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (ECO 2 RR) in aqueous media, most designs focus primarily on the catalytic layer, with limited attention to the durability of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) under high cathodic potentials and alkaline pH conditions. In this work, we employed a sacrificial template method combined with solvothermal induction to construct a GDL with a rich pore structure and multiscale rough structure. This enhancement reinforces the three‐phase interface on the GDE, accelerates CO 2 mass transfer at the catalyst surface, and enhances the GDE's durability under high cathodic potentials and alkaline conditions. The catalytic performance of the nanostructured copper catalyst was evaluated, showing stable electroreduction for up to 69 h at a constant current density of 200 mA cm −2 . At a potential of −2.0 V(vs. RHE), no flooding still occurs in the system, demonstrating superior selectivity and voltage stability compared with commercial GDLs. Furthermore, real‐time wettability changes of the electrolyte on the GDL surface were investigated using electrowetting and durability tests, revealing the flooding mechanism of the GDE during the catalytic process. This work is expected to provide guidance for the design and industrial implementation of ECO 2 RR technologies.
Yang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.