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Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 at Metal Electrodes in a Distillable Ionic Liquid
Author(s) -
Chen Lu,
Guo SiXuan,
Li Fengwang,
Bentley Cameron,
Horne Mike,
Bond Alan M.,
Zhang Jie
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201600359
Subject(s) - inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , electrocatalyst , indium , formate , platinum , ionic liquid , metal , electrode , catalysis , biochemistry , organic chemistry
The electroreduction of CO 2 in the distillable ionic liquid dimethylammonium dimethylcarbamate (dimcarb) has been investigated with 17 metal electrodes. Analysis of the electrolysis products reveals that aluminum, bismuth, lead, copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, iron, molybdenum, titanium and zirconium electroreduce the available protons in dimcarb to hydrogen rather than reducing CO 2 . Conversely, indium, tin, zinc, silver and gold are able to catalyze the reduction of CO 2 to predominantly carbon monoxide (CO) and to a lesser extent, formate ([HCOO] − ). In all cases, the applied potential was found to have a minimal influence on the distribution of the reduction products. Overall, indium was found to be the best electrocatalyst for CO 2 reduction in dimcarb, with faradaic efficiencies of approximately 45 % and 40 % for the generation of CO and [HCOO] − , respectively, at a potential of −1.34 V versus Cc +/0 (Cc + =cobaltocenium) employing a dimethylamine to CO 2 ratio of less than 1.8:1.