Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Driven by Ionic Liquid Buffer‐Like Solutions

Goncalves, Wellington D. G.; Zanatta, Marcileia; Simon, Nathalia M.; Rutzen, Luciane M.; Walsh, Darren A.; Dupont, Jairton

Abstract

We show here that electrocatalysis of CO2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes containing the ionic liquid (IL) 1-n-butyl-2,3dimethylimidazolium acetate ([BMMIm][OAc]) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) proceeds at low overpotentials (−0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl) at commercially-available Au electrodes, and with high selectivity for CO production (58% faradaic efficiency at –1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl). 0.43 mol of CO2 per mol of IL can be absorbed into the electrolyte at atmospheric pressure, forming bicarbonate and providing a constant supply of dissolved CO2 to the surface of the electrode. We also show that electrocatalysis of CO2 reduction in the electrolyte is facilitated by stabilization of CO2 radical anions by the imidazolium cations of the IL and buffer-like effects with bicarbonate.

Citation

Goncalves, W. D. G., Zanatta, M., Simon, N. M., Rutzen, L. M., Walsh, D. A., & Dupont, J. (2019). Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Driven by Ionic Liquid Buffer‐Like Solutions. ChemSusChem, 12(18), 4170-4175. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201901076

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 4, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 4, 2019
• Publication Date: Sep 20, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 5, 2020
• Journal: ChemSusChem
• Print ISSN: 1864-5631
• Electronic ISSN: 1864-564X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 18
• Pages: 4170-4175
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201901076
• Keywords: General Energy; General Materials Science; General Chemical Engineering; Environmental Chemistry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2289753
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cssc.201901076
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Dupont, J. , Goncalves, W. ., Zanatta, M. , Simon, N. ., Rutzen, L. . and Walsh, D. . (2019), Efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction driven by ionic liquid buffer‐like solutions. ChemSusChem. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1002/cssc.201901076, which has been published in final form at ttps://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201901076 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.