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Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction to CO and Methanol over a Silicon Photocathode Functionalized with a Cobalt Phthalocyanine Molecular Catalyst

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie
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  1. Department of Chemistry Yale University New Haven CT 06520 USA, Energy Sciences Institute Yale University West Haven CT 06516 USA
  2. HORIBA Instruments Inc. 359 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Suite 18 Novato CA 94949 USA
  3. Institute of Chemistry and Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
  4. Department of Chemistry University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
  5. Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC 27599-3290 USA

Abstract

We report a precious‐metal‐free molecular catalyst‐based photocathode that is active for aqueous CO 2 reduction to CO and methanol. The photoelectrode is composed of cobalt phthalocyanine molecules anchored on graphene oxide which is integrated via a (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane linker to p‐type silicon protected by a thin film of titanium dioxide. The photocathode reduces CO 2 to CO with high selectivity at potentials as mild as 0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (vs RHE). Methanol production is observed at an onset potential of −0.36 V vs RHE, and reaches a peak turnover frequency of 0.18 s −1 . To date, this is the only molecular catalyst‐based photoelectrode that is active for the six‐electron reduction of CO 2 to methanol. This work puts forth a strategy for interfacing molecular catalysts to p‐type semiconductors and demonstrates state‐of‐the‐art performance for photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction to CO and methanol.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0021173
OSTI ID:
1905917
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie, Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 135; ISSN 0044-8249
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English

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Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction to CO and Methanol over a Silicon Photocathode Functionalized with a Cobalt Phthalocyanine Molecular Catalyst
Journal Article · Mon Nov 28 23:00:00 EST 2022 · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) · OSTI ID:2377749

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