Electrochemical reduction of CO2 at Cu nanocluster / (1010) ZnO electrodes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2013
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of CO2 in aqueous bicarbonate electrolytes is studied using Cu nanoclusters on single crystal 1010 ZnO electrodes. Cu is known to generate methane as a primary product in electrochemical reduction reactions while the combination of Cu and ZnO produces methanol in gas-phase synthesis reactions. In reduction experiments at -1.4 V versus Ag/AgCl, gas phase products include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and ethylene and liquid phase products include methanol, ethanol, formate, methyl formate and trace levels of propanol. faradaic efficiencies of Cu/ZnO electrodes are similar relative to Cu electrodes with the exception of alcohols where selectivity is improved by an order or magnitude. In-situ FTIR analysis shows several liquid-phase products along with methoxy and formate adsorbates. The nature of the improved alcohol selectivity and intermediates are considered relative to proposed mechanisms and results from this work. © 2013 The Electrochemical Society.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Recommended Citation
Andrews, E., Ren, M., Wang, F., Zhang, Z., Sprunger, P., Kurtz, R., & Flake, J. (2013). Electrochemical reduction of CO2 at Cu nanocluster / (1010) ZnO electrodes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 160 (11) https://doi.org/10.1149/2.105311jes