Electrochemical reduction of CO2 at copper nanofoams

摘要

This invention includes a catalytic copper electrode is selected from the group comprising copper nanofoam, copper aerogel, and copper nanoparticles. Particular note is made of the catalytic copper electrode having at least about 5 times and preferably about 10 times the electrochemically accessible surface area as determined by the Randles-Sevcik equation at 50 mV/s. particular note is made of the catalytic coper electrode being a copper nanofoam electrode.;This invention further includes a method for the reduction of CO₂ by the steps of (i) providing a membrane divided electrochemical cell comprising an anode in a first cell compartment, a catalytic-copper electrode in a second cell compartment containing an aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode and cathode; (ii) introducing CO₂ to said second cell compartment (iii) exposing said CO₂ to said catalytic-copper electrode at a step potential between about −0.8 and preferably about −1.0 and about −1.8 V versus the reference electrode; (iv) electrochemically reducing said CO₂ and solution by the catalytic-copper electrode in the second cell compartment; (v) thereby producing propylene and (vi) extracting said propylene from said second compartment.