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| Author(s): |
Eduardo Henrique Dias
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Carlos. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) |
| Defense date: | 2024-08-14 |
| Examining board members: |
Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira;
Fabio Henrique Barros de Lima;
Osmando Ferreira Lopes
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| Advisor: | Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira |
| Abstract | |
The study presented in this thesis discusses the factors determining the efficiency of electrochemical reduction reactions of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) using copper-based catalysts. The first chapter explores the role of CuO nanoparticle dispersion, synthesized via one-pot solvothermal method on carbon black, for CO2 electroreduction in traditional systems such as the H-cell. The catalysts produced exhibited high performance even with lower CuO contents, thereby enhancing catalytic layer efficiency. The prepared films demonstrated stability for over 30 hours and good activity for CO2RR, yielding CO, formic acid, ethanol, and acetic acid as products with effective control over hydrogen evolution competition. Results highlighted significant faradaic efficiency for CO2 reduction products (above 50%), comparable to more complex catalysts reported in literature. The second chapter discusses the role of electrochemical configuration on process efficiency. The same developed catalyst was applied in a continuous flow electrochemical configuration with electrodes directly deposited on ion exchange membrane (Membrane Electrode Assembly, MEA). Despite minimal catalyst usage, the system achieved high currents (over 100 mA/cm2) and faradaic efficiency for CO production (63%) at acceptable cell voltages (-3.2 V) compared to industrial benchmarks. Thus, this thesis demonstrates the impact of electrode engineering and reaction system aspects on overall electrochemical CO2 reduction performance, factors that may underestimate the potential of a reaction system and influence its long-term stability. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/10689-2 - Preparation of reaction systems for photocatalytic methane-to-methanol selective oxidation |
| Grantee: | Eduardo Henrique Dias |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct) |