Role of H2O in CO2 Electrochemical Reduction As Studied in a Water-in-Salt System.

ABSTRACT: CO2 electrochemical reduction is of great interest not only for its technological implications but also for the scientific challenges it represents. How to suppress the kinetically favored hydrogen evolution in the presence of H2O, for instance, has attracted significant attention. Here we report a new way of achieving such a goal. Our strategy involves a unique water-in-salt electrolyte system, where the H2O concentration can be greatly suppressed due to the strong solvation of the high-concentration salt. More importantly, the water-in-salt electrolyte offers an opportunity to tune the H2O concentration for electrokinetic studies of CO2 reduction, a parameter of critical importance to the understanding of the detailed mechanisms but difficult to vary previously. Using Au as a model catal

SUBMITTER: Dong Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6716197 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature