Reducing Carbon Dioxide to Products

Abstract

A method reducing carbon dioxide to one or more organic products may include steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may introduce an anolyte to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell, said first compartment including an anode. Step (B) may introduce a catholyte and carbon dioxide to a second compartment of said electrochemical cell. The second compartment may include a tin cathode and a catalyst. The catalyst may include at least one of pyridine, 2-picoline or 2,6-lutidine. Step (C) may apply an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode sufficient for said cathode to reduce said carbon dioxide to at least one of formate or formic acid.

1 . A system for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 an electrochemical cell including:
 a first cell compartment; 
 an anode positioned within said first cell compartment; 
 a second cell compartment; 
 a separator interposed between said first cell compartment and said second cell compartment, said second cell compartment containing an electrolyte; 
 a cathode and a homogenous catalyst positioned within said second cell compartment, said cathode comprising tin (Sn), said catalyst including at least one of pyridine, 2-picoline or 2,6-lutidine; and 
   an energy source operably coupled with said anode and said cathode, said energy source configured to apply a voltage between said anode and said cathode to reduce carbon dioxide at said cathode to at least one of formate or formic acid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is present in said second cell compartment in a concentration of between about 1 mM and 100 mM. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said catalyst is present in said second cell compartment in a concentration of about 30 mM. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second cell compartment further includes an acidic solution. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said second cell compartment further includes a phosphate buffer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said phosphate buffer is a 0.2M phosphate buffer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said second cell compartment has a pH range of between about 1 and 7. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said second cell compartment has a pH range of between about 3 and 6. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second cell compartment further includes a mixture of cations, said mixture of cations including at least one of a mixture of potassium ions and cesium ions, a mixture of lithium and potassium ions, a mixture of lithium and cesium ions, a mixture of sodium and cesium ions, or a mixture of lithium and sodium ions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one of a mixture of potassium ions and cesium ions, a mixture of lithium and potassium ions, a mixture of lithium and cesium ions, a mixture of sodium and cesium ions, or a mixture of lithium and sodium ions includes a molar ratio of between about 1:1000 and 1000:1. 
     
     
         11 . A method for reducing carbon dioxide to one or more organic products, comprising:
 (A) introducing an anolyte to a first compartment of an electrochemical cell, said first compartment including an anode;   (B) introducing a catholyte and carbon dioxide to a second compartment of said electrochemical cell, said second compartment including a tin cathode and a catalyst, said catalyst including at least one of pyridine, 2-picoline or 2,6-lutidine; and   (C) applying an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode sufficient for said cathode to reduce said carbon dioxide to at least one of formate or formic acid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said catalyst is present in said second cell compartment in a concentration of between about 1 mM and 100 mM. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said catalyst is present in said second cell compartment in a concentration of about 30 mM. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 introducing an acidic solution to said second cell compartment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 introducing a phosphate buffer to said second cell compartment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said phosphate buffer is a 0.2M phosphate buffer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 maintaining said second cell compartment at a pH range of between about 1 and 7.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein maintaining said second cell compartment at a pH range of between about 1 and 7 includes:
 maintaining said second cell compartment at a pH range of between about 3 and 6.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 introducing a mixture of cations to said second cell compartment, said mixture of cations including at least one of a mixture of potassium ions and cesium ions, a mixture of lithium and potassium ions, a mixture of lithium and cesium ions, a mixture of sodium and cesium ions, or a mixture of lithium and sodium ions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one of a mixture of potassium ions and cesium ions, a mixture of lithium and potassium ions, a mixture of lithium and cesium ions, a mixture of sodium and cesium ions, or a mixture of lithium and sodium ions includes a molar ratio of between about 1:1000 and 1000:1.