Formic Acid Electroreduction Pathways on (111) Metal Surfaces.

ABSTRACT: Formic acid (HCOOH) electroreduction is poorly studied, even though it holds promise for energy conversion and storage applications. We use density functional theory to investigate the most likely products after four HCOOH electroreduction steps on Cu(111), Au(111), Ag(111), Zn(111), Pt(111), Pd(111), and Ru(111). On Cu(111), the formation of H₂, CO (and/or CO-derived C₂ products), CH₃OH, and CH₄ is thermodynamically allowed. The Cu(111) surface has low selectivity because HCOOH reduction intermediates can adsorb via both O and C atoms. Experimentally, formic acid reduction on Cu produces H₂, C₂ products, and CH₃OH, but very little CH₄. Interestingly, CO/CO₂ reduction on Cu produces CH_4<

SUBMITTER: Meng Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12447119 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature