Abstract
This work focuses on photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction at a Cu/Cu2O electrode (1×1cm2). The formation of methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone was monitored during UV–visible radiation for 3h at +0.20V (vs. Ag/AgCl reference); 80% of the initial CO2 was removed. In this process, the photogenerated electrons in the p-type Cu2O semiconductor reduced CO2 (CO2+e−→CO2−). Subsequent reaction involved radical species that originated during photolysis and dictated the product distribution observed. Methanol formation prevailed for a short period (<30min); acetaldehyde and acetone were the main products after a longer accumulation period (>120min). A reaction scheme is presented to account for the product evolution and reactions with the H, CH3, and OH radical species generated in situ. The medium pH was identified as a key variable in the selectivity of the methanol formation.
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