Electrochemical reduction of CO2 in an aqueous electrolyte employing an iridium/ruthenium‐oxide electrode. (13th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ullah, Nehar; Ali, Irshad; Jansen, Maëlle; Omanovic, Sasha
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of chemical engineering. Volume 93:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2014-11-13
• Subjects: Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cjce.22110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-4034

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="cjce22110-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ in an aqueous electrolyte (Briton Robinson buffer, pH = 5.82) was investigated using an Ir/Ru‐oxide coating deposited on a titanium substrate, as a function of electrode potential and temperature. The results demonstrated that the Ir/Ru‐oxide electrode can efficiently be used for the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into different valuable organic molecules at high faradaic efficiency, 85 % and 96 % at 295 K and 277 K, respectively. Ethanol was found to be the major electrochemical reduction product remained in the liquid phase, with a minor contribution of methanol, acetone and acetaldehyde. The amount of formed products and the corresponding faradaic efficiency were found to be strongly dependent on electrode potential. A maximum in both was obtained at −1.7 V (vs. MSE). At this potential, lowering the reaction temperature from 295 K to 277 K was found to increase the CO₂ reduction kinetics only at short electrolysis times, while the corresponding faradaic efficiency increased significantly. The presented work demonstrates that the Ir/Ru‐oxide electrode can be considered as a good electrode candidate for the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into usable organic molecules at atmospheric pressure and in aqueous electrolytes.</p> </sec> </abstract>