Selective electrochemical reduction of CO2 into energy-dense organic compounds is a promising strategy for using CO2 as a carbon source. However, efficient and selective earth abundant metal catalysts for the two reactions typically required for efficient overall CO2 electrolysis, namely the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and CO2 reduction, are still scarce. We will present here the synthesis and electrochemical properties of a rationally designed nanostructured copper/copper oxide electrocatalyst for OER[1], and of a series of nitrogen-doped carbon and copper -based catalysts for the electroreduction of CO2 under aqueous conditions[2,3]. We will present their combination and use in a flow electrolyzer, and subsequent coupling with inexpensive PV cells.
[1] T. N. Huan, G. Rousse, S. Zanna, I. T. Lucas, X. Xu, N. Menguy, V. Mougel, M. Fontecave, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 56 (2017), 4792–4796.
[2] V. Mougel, T. N. Huan, M. Fontecave, patent application FR1653753, “Electrode metal / chalcogénure métallique”
[3] T. N. Huan, N. Ranjbar, G. Rousse, M. Sougrati, A. Zitolo, V. Mougel, F. Jaouen, M. Fontecave, ACS Catal. 7 (2017), 1520–1525.
Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, Collège de France