Copper-Tin Alloys for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO 2 in an Imidazolium-Based Non-Aqueous Electrolyte

Robert L. Sacci, Stephanie Velardo, Lu Xiong, Daniel A. Lutterman and Joel Rosenthal
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Robert L. Sacci: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
Stephanie Velardo: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Lu Xiong: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Daniel A. Lutterman: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
Joel Rosenthal: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: The ability to synthesize value-added chemicals directly from CO 2 will be an important technological advancement for future generations. Using solar energy to drive thermodynamically uphill electrochemical reactions allows for near carbon-neutral processes that can convert CO 2 into energy-rich carbon-based fuels. Here, we report on the use of inexpensive CuSn alloys to convert CO 2 into CO in an acetonitrile/imidazolium-based electrolyte. Synergistic interactions between the CuSn catalyst and the imidazolium cation enables the electrocatalytic conversion of CO 2 into CO at −1.65 V versus the standard calomel electrode (SCE). This catalyst system is characterized by overpotentials for CO 2 reduction that are similar to more expensive Au- and Ag-based catalysts, and also shows that the efficacy of the CO 2 reduction reaction can be tuned by varying the CuSn ratio.

Keywords: electrocatalysis; electrodeposition; CO 2 electroreduction; non-aqueous electrolytes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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