Electrochemical CO2 reduction to C1 and C2 products on catalysts made up of copper complexes with potential dynamic behavior between Cu2-ligand and metallic Cu

• Grant number: 21/03263-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2022
• End date: July 10, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Henrique Barros de Lima
• Grantee: Rafael Luiz Romano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/22183-6 - Electrocatalysis VI: fundamental and applied aspects of emerging and classical problems in electrochemical energy conversion, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/11453-8 - Copper complexes with water-insoluble ligands as electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction: characterization of the active sites, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The development of efficient technologies for energy conversion and storage fits as a fundamental element for the establishment of a sustainable society. In this context, the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (RECO2) emerges as a very attractive process, since it allows the storage of energy by the conversion of electrical energy into chemical. On copper-based electrocatalysts, CO2 can be electro-reduced to products with one or more carbon atoms. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome, such as the sluggish kinetics, the high overpotentials, and the low stability and selectivity. Thus, the development of more efficient, selective and stable electrocatalysts are essential aspects for the advancement and practical application of this reaction. This work aims to study the electrocatalytic activity of copper complexes and copper carbon and nitrogen compounds with N-C terminal binding groups, such as CTFs (Covalent Triazine Frameworks) and g-C3N4 (Graphitic Carbon Nitrides) for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in aqueous media. Particularly, it is intended to evaluate the potential of these electrocatalysts for the formation of C1 and C2+ products and to investigate the possible existence of dynamic behavior of copper as a function of the applied potential and its effect on the stability of the electrocatalysts for RECO2. The distribution of the reaction products will be investigated by on-line DEMS (Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectroscopy) measurements and the faradaic efficiency of each product will be calculated by means of in-line gas chromatography measurements. (AU)