Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂ to CH₃OH at Copper Oxide Surfaces

Journal Article · Sat Mar 05 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.3561636· OSTI ID:1064980

Le, Minh ^[1]; Ren, Maoming ^[1]; Zhang, Ziyu ^[1]; Sprunger, Phillip T. ^[1]; Kurtz, Richard L. ^[1]; Flake, John C. ^[1]

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1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)

The direct reduction of CO₂ to CH₃OH is known to occur at several types of electrocatalysts including oxidized Cu electrodes. In this work, we examine the yield behavior of an electrodeposited cuprous oxide thin film and explore relationships between surface chemistry and reaction behavior relative to air-oxidized and anodized Cu electrodes. CH₃OH yields (43 μmol cm^-2 h^-1) and Faradaic efficiencies (38%) observed at cuprous oxide electrodes were remarkably higher than air-oxidized or anodized Cu electrodes suggesting Cu(I) species may play a critical role in selectivity to CH₃OH. Experimental results also show CH₃OH yields are dynamic and the copper oxides are reduced to metallic Cu in a simultaneous process. Yield behavior is discussed in comparison with photoelectrochemical and hydrogenation reactions where the improved stability of Cu(I) species may allow continuous CH₃OH generation.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC); Center for Atomic-Level Catalyst Design (CALCD)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0001058
• OSTI ID: 1064980
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 158
• Publisher: Electrochemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
carbon capture
carbon sequestration
catalysis (heterogeneous)
charge transport
hydrogen and fuel cells
materials and chemistry by design
synthesis (novel materials)