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Abstract
Electrocatalysis, whose reaction venue locates at the catalyst–electrolyte interface, is controlled by the electron transfer across the electric double layer, envisaging a mechanistic link between the electron transfer rate and the electric double layer structure. A fine example is in the CO
2
reduction reaction, of which rate shows a strong dependence on the alkali metal cation (M
+
) identity, but there is yet to be a unified molecular picture for that. Using quantum-mechanics-based atom-scale simulation, we herein scrutinize the M
+
-coupling capability to possible intermediates, and establish H
+
- and M
+
-associated ET mechanisms for CH
4
and CO/C
2
H
4
formations, respectively. These theoretical scenarios are successfully underpinned by Nernstian shifts of polarization curves with the H
+
or M
+
concentrations and the first-order kinetics of CO/C
2
H
4
formation on the electrode surface charge density. Our finding further rationalizes the merit of using Nafion-coated electrode for enhanced C2 production in terms of enhanced surface charge density.