Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 at the Ni nanorods-copper oxide nanosheets decorated copper foam and its application for electrosynthesis of isonicotinic acid

Safoora Mohammadzadeh¹ Hamid R. Zare² Hossein Khoshro³

1) Iran Yazd University, E-mail:
2) Iran Yazd University,
3) Iran Yazd University,

Publication : 13th Biennial Electrochemistry Seminar of Iran(elect13pguac.ir)
Abstract :
Cu/CuxO/Ni is introduced as a new electrocatalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 at low overpotential in acetonitrile (ACN) solvent. Coating of CuO-Cu2O (CuxO) nanosheets on copper foam was fabricated by an electrochemical anodization method in an alkaline solution[1]. Constant current coulometry method was used to electrodeposit Ni nanorods on the Cu/CuxO electrode surface[2]. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) prove the copper oxide nanosheets are anchored on copper foam substrate and modified by Ni nanorods via a facile and inexpensive electrodeposition method. The copper foam used as substrate to provide the large surface areas for growing copper oxides nanosheets on its 3D frame. The results indicate that Cu/CuxO/Ni electrode has better electrocatalytic activity to reduce CO2 than Ni and Cu/CuxO electrodes alone. This is probably due to synergistic effect between adjacent CuxO and Ni sites. The electrocatalytic reduction product of CO2 (activated CO2, CO2•−) was used for electrocarboxylation of pyridine in mild conditions. By transferring an electron from CO2•− to pyridine, pyridine radical anion is formed. This radical anion, based on the EC′C′CC mechanism, reacts with CO2•− and produces isonicotinic acid[3]. The high stability of the proposed electrocatalyst during the electrolysis process and the simplicity of the workup make it attractive to use the proposed electrode for the electrosynthesis of isonicotinic acid.
Keywords : Cu foam CuO-Cu2O nanosheets Ni nanorods CO2 electroreduction Isonicotinic acid