The Selective Electrochemical Conversion of Preactivated CO2 to Methane. Issue 7 (14th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luca, Oana R.; McCrory, Charles C. L.; Dalleska, Nathan F.; Koval, Carl A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 162:Issue 7(2015)
• Page Start: H473
• Page End: H476
• Publication Date: 2015-04-14
• Subjects: carbon dioxide -- electrocatalysis -- methane -- preactivation; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0371507jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : This work reports the selective electrochemical conversion of CO2 to methane, the reverse reaction of fossil fuel combustion. This reaction is facilitated by preactivation of the CO2 molecule with an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) to form a zwitterionic species in the first step. In the presence of Ni(cyclam) 2+ and CF3 CH2 OH, this species is shown to undergo further electrochemical reduction of the bound-CO2 fragment at glassy carbon cathodes in dichloromethane electrolyte solution. Labeling studies confirm the origin of the carbon and protons in the methane product are the preactivated CO2 and trifluoroethanol respectively.