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Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 : Two‐ or three‐electrode configuration
Author(s) -
Woldu Abebe Reda,
Shah Aamir Hassan,
Hu Haifeng,
Cahen David,
Zhang Xuehua,
He Tao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4904
Subject(s) - electrode , overpotential , anode , cathode , materials science , reference electrode , faraday efficiency , reversible hydrogen electrode , optoelectronics , working electrode , palladium hydrogen electrode , electrochemistry , standard hydrogen electrode , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , chromatography
Summary Electrocatalytical conversion of CO 2 into various chemicals like hydrocarbons and CO is regarded as a promising approach to mitigate carbon emission and, meanwhile, to provide sustainable energy and value‐added chemicals. Two different reactors are used in this work. One is based upon the two‐electrode configuration powered by a DC power supply or Si solar cell, which is suitable for practical applications. Another is three‐electrode one powered by a potentiostat, which is feasible to study the electrode performance. Polycrystalline Cu electrode is used as the cathode, and hematite is the anode. Performance of CO 2 reduction using the two‐ and three‐electrode configurations is studied by measuring electrode potential, cell voltage, current density, Faradaic efficiency, and reduction selectivity of CO 2 . Cu cathode used here exhibits a low overpotential for CO 2 reduction, specifically for the cell with two‐electrode configuration. No obvious difference can be observed between the two types of configurations at a low bias like −0.3 and −0.4 V; while the reactor with two‐electrode configuration exhibits better performance at a high bias like −0.8 V than the one with three‐electrode configuration. Thus, the reactors with two‐electrode configuration are desirable for practical applications, specifically considering solar cells can be used as the power source to provide green and sustainable energy.