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Selective Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Aqueous CO 2 to CO by Solvated Electrons
Author(s) -
Zhang Linghong,
Zhu Di,
Nathanson Gilbert M.,
Hamers Robert J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201404328
Subject(s) - solvated electron , aqueous solution , electron , chemistry , electrochemistry , selectivity , inorganic chemistry , photochemistry , diamond , iodide , adsorption , ion , electrode , radiolysis , catalysis , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , biochemistry
Reduction of CO 2 by direct one‐electron activation is extraordinarily difficult because of the −1.9 V reduction potential of CO 2 . Demonstrated herein is reduction of aqueous CO 2 to CO with greater than 90 % product selectivity by direct one‐electron reduction to CO 2 .− by solvated electrons. Illumination of inexpensive diamond substrates with UV light leads to the emission of electrons directly into water, where they form solvated electrons and induce reduction of CO 2 to CO 2 .− . Studies using diamond were supported by studies using aqueous iodide ion (I − ), a chemical source of solvated electrons. Both sources produced CO with high selectivity and minimal formation of H 2 . The ability to initiate reduction reactions by emitting electrons directly into solution without surface adsorption enables new pathways which are not accessible using conventional electrochemical or photochemical processes.