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Efficient Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid: A Functionalized Ionic Liquid as an Absorbent and Electrolyte
Author(s) -
Lu Weiwei,
Jia Bo,
Cui Beilei,
Zhang Yuan,
Yao Kaisheng,
Zhao Yuling,
Wang Jianji
Publication year - 2017
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.201703977
Subject(s) - formic acid , electrolyte , carbon dioxide , ionic liquid , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , electrode , catalysis , carbon monoxide
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a potential method for production of fuels and chemicals from a C1 feedstock accumulated in the atmosphere. However, the low solubility of CO 2 in water, and complicated processes associated with capture and conversion, render CO 2 conversion inefficient. A new concept is proposed in which a PEC system is used to capture and convert CO 2 into formic acid. The process is assisted by an ionic liquid (1‐aminopropyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide) aqueous solution, which functions as an absorbent and electrolyte at ambient temperature and pressure. Within this PEC reduction strategy, the ionic liquid plays a critical role in promoting the conversion of CO 2 to formic acid and suppressing the reduction of H 2 O to H 2 . At an applied voltage of 1.7 V, the Faradaic efficiency for formic acid production is as high as 94.1 % and the electro‐to‐chemical efficiency is 86.2 %.