Chemically modified electrodes for the catalytic reduction of CO. sub.2

摘要

An electrode that has a film adsorbed to its surface by reductive electropolymerization of (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 Cl (4-vinyl-4'- methyl-2,2'- bipyridine tricarbonylchlororhenium(I)) or its acetonitrile analogue, (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)!.sup.+ (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'- bipyridine tricarbonylacetonitrile rhenium (I)). The poly(vbpy)Re(CO).sub. 3 Cl or poly (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)!.sup.+ adsorbed onto the electrode, acts as a catalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction to CO. Stability and the reactivity of the polymer film may be increased by co-reductive electropolymerization of either of the aforesaid Re complexes with (bpy). sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2.sup.2+ (bis(4-vinyl-pyridine)bis(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium (II)) (vpy is 4-vinylpyridine). A bilayer film assembly consisting of poly- (bpy).sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2 !.sup.2+ as an inner film and the aforementioned copolymer of Ru/Re yields even greater reactivity to CO.sub.2.PPA method of forming a polymeric film on an electrode.PPA method of reducing CO.sub.2 to CO using an electrode having a polymeric film adsorbed to its surface.