Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on copper-based nanocatalysts using the rotating ring-disc electrode

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 283; pp. 1037 - 1044
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xuanheng, Gupta, Kalyani, Bersani, Marco, Darr, Jawwad A., Shearing, Paul R., Brett, Dan J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis; Copper(I) oxide; Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide; Nanoparticles; Rotating ring-disc electrode; Rotating ring-disc electrode; Nanoparticles; Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide; Continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis; Copper(I) oxide
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.07.025

A continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis method was used to produce copper(I) oxide nanoparticles, which were used as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO2. A rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) system was used to study the electroreduction processes, including a systematic study (including quantitative NMR analysis) to identify product species formed at the disc and detected at the ring. In 0.5 M KHCO3 electrolyte with a pH of 7.1, carbon dioxide was found to be exclusively reduced to formate. In the potential range −0.5 to −0.9 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), an active material/glassy-carbon disc electrode was shown to produce formate, with a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 66% (at −0.8 V vs RHE). [Display omitted] •Continuous hydrothermal synthesis production of Cu(I)oxide nanomaterials for CO2 electroreduction.•Exclusive production of formate at up to 66% Faradaic efficiency.•Rotating ring-disc electrode effective means of studying CO2 electroreduction process.