Effect of Copper Particle Size on the Product Distribution of the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

Abstract

Electroless copper electrocatalyst is explored in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide for renewable energy generation. Non-conductive carbon toray paper is made active for electroless plating with Pd-ink and is followed by the elctroless deposition method where copper particle size is varied with deposition time. The copper catalyzed toray paper is utilized as the cathode in the electrolytic reduction of carbon dioxide. The feasibility of using the electrocatalyst as prepared to electrochemically reduce carbon dioxide is first determined from cyclic voltammogram. The electroless copper particle size deposited on the working electrode for CO2 reduction is estimated via SEM. It was found that the electrocatalyst prepared by electroless deposition was active for the CO2electrochemical reduction reaction. Particle size is shown to have an effect on current measured from the reaction. Results will be presented on the product distributions resulting from use of different electroless Cu particle sizes for the reduction of carbon dioxide. Detailed characterization of the electrode material will also be presented.Electroless copper electrocatalyst is explored in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide for renewable energy generation. Non-conductive carbon toray paper is made active for electroless plating with Pd-ink and is followed by the elctroless deposition method where copper particle size is varied with deposition time. The copper catalyzed toray paper is utilized as the cathode in the electrolytic reduction of carbon dioxide. The feasibility of using the electrocatalyst as prepared to electrochemically reduce carbon dioxide is first determined from cyclic voltammogram. The electroless copper particle size deposited on the working electrode for CO2 reduction is estimated via SEM. It was found that the electrocatalyst prepared by electroless deposition was active for the CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction. Particle size is shown to have an effect on current measured from the reaction. Results will be presented on the product distributions resulting from use of different electroless Cu particle sizes for the reduction of carbon dioxide. Detailed characterization of the electrode material will also be presented.