Electrochemical Production of Oxalate and Formate from CO2 by Solvated Electrons Produced Using an Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma. Issue 10 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rumbach, Paul; Xu, Rui; Go, David B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 163:Issue 10(2016)
• Page Start: F1157
• Page End: F1161
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: atmospheric pressure plasma -- carbon dioxide -- co2 -- co2 conversion -- co2 reforming -- plasma -- plasma electrochemistry -- solvated electrons; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0521610jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : In this work, we use an atmospheric-pressure plasma in argon as a cathode to electrochemically reduce carbon dioxide in aqueous solution. Using optical absorption spectroscopy, we directly show that solvated electrons reduce CO2(aq) to form the carboxyl radical anion CO2 − (aq), and the reaction obeys 3D bulk reaction kinetics similar to those measured in radiolysis experiments. We then use liquid ion chromatography to show that the CO2 − (aq) intermediate ultimately reacts to produce oxalate and formate. The overall faradaic efficiency of the reaction is close to 10% for a CO2(aq) concentration of 34 mM. However, given the known reaction kinetics of solvated electrons, this efficiency should approach 100% as the concentration of CO2(aq) is increased.