Solar-assisted hydrogen generation by photoelectrocatalysis. Annual report, November 1, 1986-October 31, 1987

Technical Report · Sat Nov 07 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5497311

Sammells, A F; Cook, R L; Wessels, B W

Carbon dioxide was electrochemically reduced at high rates and Faradaic efficiencies using in-situ deposited copper electrodes in CO/sub 2/ saturated potassium bicarbonate. Both methane and ethylene were found as reduction products. At a current density of 8.3mA/sq. cm. the cumulative yield for those two species was essentially Faradaic, and at 25mA/sq. cm. 79%. Carbon dioxide reduction did not appear to be a direct electrochemical process, but proceeded through the reaction of weakly adsorbed carbon dioxide with electrochemically generated chemisorbed hydrogen at the in situ deposited copper surface. Subsequent hydrogenation of this reduced species by chemisorbed hydrogen probably led to bridged CO groups which could either desorb to give carbon monoxide or become further reduced to give carbidic carbon available for subsequent hydrogenation to yield methane and ethylene. Carbon dioxide reduction to gaseous hydrocarbons was also promoted using solid polymer electrolyte cells, where the reaction occurred at less cathodic potentials than found in aqueous electrolyte.

• Research Organization: Eltron Research, Inc., Aurora, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5497311
• Report Number(s): PB-88-160932/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080105* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Bosch Process
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400400 -- Electrochemistry
ANODES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYSIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PROGRESS REPORT
REDUCTION
SURFACES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER