The pH and Potential Dependence of Pb–Catalyzed Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Methyl Formate in a Dual Methanol/Water Electrolyte

Hofsommer, Dillon T.; Liang, Ying; Uttarwar, Sandesh S.; Gautam, Manu; Pishgar, Sahar; Gulati, Saumya; Grapperhaus, Craig A.; Spurgeon, Joshua M.

doi:10.1002/cssc.202102289

Title: The pH and Potential Dependence of Pb–Catalyzed Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction to Methyl Formate in a Dual Methanol/Water Electrolyte

Journal Article · 02 January 2022 · ChemSusChem

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202102289 · OSTI ID:1901578

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Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States); University of Louisville
Guangdong Pharmaceutical Univ. (China); Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)
Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

The conversion of waste CO₂ to value-added chemicals through electrochemical reduction is a promising technology for mitigating climate change while simultaneously providing economic opportunities. The use of non-aqueous solvents like methanol allows for higher CO₂ availability and novel products. In this work, the electrochemistry of CO₂ reduction in acidic methanol catholyte at a Pb working electrode was investigated while using a separate aqueous anolyte to promote a sustainable water oxidation half-reaction. The selectivity among methyl formate (a product unique to reduction of CO₂ in methanol), formic acid, and formate was critically dependent on the catholyte pH, with higher pH conditions leading to formate and low pH favoring methyl formate. Furthermore, the potential dependence of the product distribution in acidic catholyte was also investigated, with a faradaic efficiency for methyl formate as high as 75% measured at -2.0 V vs Ag/AgCl.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0031916

OSTI ID:: 1901578

Journal Information:: ChemSusChem, Journal Name: ChemSusChem Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 15; ISSN 1864-5631

Publisher:: ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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