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Enhanced Catalytic Activity of Cobalt Porphyrin in CO 2 Electroreduction upon Immobilization on Carbon Materials
Author(s) -
Hu XinMing,
Rønne Magnus H.,
Pedersen Steen U.,
Skrydstrup Troels,
Daasbjerg Kim
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201701104
Subject(s) - overpotential , catalysis , electrocatalyst , cobalt , porphyrin , tetraphenylporphyrin , chemistry , aqueous solution , carbon nanotube , solvent , selectivity , dimethylformamide , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , carbon fibers , chemical engineering , photochemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , electrode , composite material , composite number , engineering
In a comparative study of the electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction, cobalt meso‐tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) is used as a model molecular catalyst under both homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions. In the former case, employing N,N‐dimethylformamide as solvent, CoTPP performs poorly as an electrocatalyst giving low product selectivity in a slow reaction at a high overpotential. However, upon straightforward immobilization of CoTPP onto carbon nanotubes, a remarkable enhancement of the electrocatalytic abilities is seen with CO 2 becoming selectively reduced to CO (>90 %) at a low overpotential in aqueous medium. This effect is ascribed to the particular environment created by the aqueous medium at the catalytic site of the immobilized catalyst that facilitates the adsorption and further reaction of CO 2 . This work highlights the significance of assessing an immobilized molecular catalyst from more than homogeneous measurements alone.