Spectroscopic Evidence for the C_2O_4~- Dimer Radical Anion during Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction on Cu Electrodes in Aqueous Conditions

摘要

Understanding of reaction pathways and mechanism plays an important role in determining the kinetics of electrochemical reactions, and thus in the design of electrochemical processes. Attenuated Total Reflection - Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) provides a very sensitive tool for analysis of surface-electrochemical transformations. One of the applications of this technique is operando study of the electrochemical reduction of CO_2. However, there is still much uncertainty concerning the nature of the intermediates towards CO in the conversion of CO_2, and the interpretation of the measured peak positions in the IR spectra.