Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO₂ to Formate at Low Overpotential by Electrolyte Engineering in Model Molecular Catalysis.

ABSTRACT: An electrolyte engineering strategy was developed for CO₂ reduction into formate with a model molecular catalyst, [Rh(bpy)(Cp*)Cl]Cl, by modifying the solvent (organic or aqueous), the proton source (H₂ O or acetic acid), and the electrode/solution interface with imidazolium- and pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquids (ILs). Experimental and theoretical density functional theory investigations suggested that π⁺ -π interactions between the imidazolium-based IL cation and the reduced bipyridine ligand of the catalyst improved the efficiency of the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂ RR) by lowering the overpotential, while granting partial suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction. This allowed tuning the selectivity towards formate, reaching fo

SUBMITTER: Vichou E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10100316 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature