Effects of Electrolyte Environment on Carbon Dioxide Reduction

A promising method to convert carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals is the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on copper-based catalysts. Copper based catalysts are known to produce small organic molecules including ethylene, methane, and higher hydrocarbons, but with low selectivity to a given product. Previous studies suggest that the product distribution is dependent on the environment surrounding the electrode, but the interactions between the electrolyte and catalysts are unknown. To understand these interactions, we systematically altered the composition and pH of the electrolyte to probe the catalytic activity using in situ techniques. We used the unique combination of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to probe both the formation of surface intermediates and changes to the electrode structure as a function of electrode environment. A full understanding of the synergy between the electrode and the surrounding environment will allow for the rational design of both the catalysts and electrochemical reactors.