Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide on zinc in KOH/methanol-based electrolyte

摘要

The electrochemical reduction of CO{sub}2 in a KOH/methanol-based electrolyte was investigated using a zinc wire electrode at ambient temperature and pressure. Carbon monoxide, formic acid, and methane were the main products from the CO{sub}2. The formation of CO form CO{sub}2 predominated in all the potential ranges studied. Under the optimum experimental conditions, 92% Faradaic efficiency formic acid, 18% CO, and 0.1% methane were produced form CO{sub}2 by the electrochemical reduction. Hydrogen evolution in competition with CO{sub}2 reduction was more than 48 times greater than that for hydrogen evolution. This research can contribute to applications of the conversion of CO{sub}2-saturated methanol into useful products and the large-scale removal of CO{sub}2 from the atmosphere.