Premium
High‐Selectivity Electrochemical Conversion of CO 2 to Ethanol using a Copper Nanoparticle/N‐Doped Graphene Electrode
Author(s) -
Song Yang,
Peng Rui,
Hensley Dale K.,
Bonnesen Peter V.,
Liang Liangbo,
Wu Zili,
Meyer Harry M.,
Chi Miaofang,
Ma Cheng,
Sumpter Bobby G.,
Rondi Adam J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201601169
Subject(s) - materials science , graphene , electrochemistry , catalysis , nanoparticle , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , selectivity , faraday efficiency , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , carbon monoxide , noble metal , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , electrode , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material , engineering
Though carbon dioxide is a waste product of combustion, it can also be a potential feedstock for the production of fine and commodity organic chemicals provided that an efficient means to convert it to useful organic synthons can be developed. Herein we report a common element, nanostructured catalyst for the direct electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to ethanol with high Faradaic efficiency (63 % at −1.2 V vs RHE) and high selectivity (84 %) that operates in water and at ambient temperature and pressure. Lacking noble metals or other rare or expensive materials, the catalyst is comprised of Cu nanoparticles on a highly textured, N‐doped carbon nanospike film. Electrochemical analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest a preliminary mechanism in which active sites on the Cu nanoparticles and the carbon nanospikes work in tandem to control the electrochemical reduction of carbon monoxide dimer to alcohol.