Aromatic amine electrocatalysts for the coupling of CO₂ to form multicarbon alcohols: Electrode surface and substituent effects

The energy efficient reduction of CO₂ to multicarbon fuels represents an important opportunity in energy storage and greenhouse gas mitigation. It has previously been noted that the pyridinium catalyzed reduction of CO₂ to methanol at platinum electrodes provides superior reaction kinetics. Prior work on this system indicates that the formation of methanol requires surface dependent processes. Presented here is an exploration of nickel chromium alloy electrodes as well as new pyridinium derived catalysts for carbon-carbon bond formation from CO₂. Nickel chromium alloy electrodes show formation of ethanol and isopropanol upon reduction of CO₂ in the presence of pyridinium, a chemistry that does not occur at simple platinum group metal electrodes. Surface preparation of the nickel chromium electrodes affects the potential at which catalysis takes place. The mechanism by which carbon-carbon bond formation occurs will be considered in this presentation.