Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Methanol with a Molecular Cobalt-Catalyst-Loaded Porous Carbon Electrode Assisted by a CIGS Photovoltaic Cell**

摘要

Conversion of CO2 into valuable compounds, including fuels, with renewable energy sources and sustainable compounds is a challenge addressed by artificial photosynthesis research. In particular, the application of solar assisted electrochemical (EC) processes, in which electrons are furnished by a photovoltaic (PV) cell, is a promising approach. A PV-EC system is described, consisting of a CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) PV unit linked to a carbon electrode loaded with cobalt phthalocyanine as molecular catalyst, able to achieve the CO2 reduction to CO and then to methanol in aqueous media with limited bias voltage.