High‐Yield Electrochemical Production of Formaldehyde from CO 2 and Seawater
Abstract The catalytic, electrocatalytic, or photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 into useful chemicals in high yield for industrial applications has so far proven difficult. Herein, we present our work on the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 in seawater using a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode und...
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Published in | Angewandte Chemie Vol. 126; no. 3; pp. 890 - 893 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | German |
Published |
13.01.2014
|
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Abstract
The catalytic, electrocatalytic, or photocatalytic conversion of CO
2
into useful chemicals in high yield for industrial applications has so far proven difficult. Herein, we present our work on the electrochemical reduction of CO
2
in seawater using a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrode under ambient conditions to produce formaldehyde. This method overcomes the usual limitation of the low yield of higher‐order products, and also reduces the generation of H
2
. In comparison with other electrode materials, BDD electrodes have a wide potential window and high electrochemical stability, and, moreover, exhibit very high Faradaic efficiency (74 %) for the production of formaldehyde, using either methanol, aqueous NaCl, or seawater as the electrolyte. The high Faradaic efficiency is attributed to the sp
3
‐bonded carbon of the BDD. Our results have wide ranging implications for the efficient and cost‐effective conversion of CO
2
. |
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ISSN: | 0044-8249 1521-3757 |
DOI: | 10.1002/ange.201308657 |