System and process for electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide

Abstract

The invention provides a system and a process that allow for the selective electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide with high energy efficiency, using a cathode comprised of tin in combination with an anode comprised of platinum. The electrolysis system may be comprised of a single or two compartment cell and may employ an organic electrolyte or an ionic liquid electrolyte. The invention permits the storage of solar, wind or conventional electric energy by converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and liquid fuels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolytic system for conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, the system comprising:
 an electrode comprised of tin and a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolytic system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprised of tin is a cathode. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolytic system of  claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises an anode comprised of platinum and an electrolyte in fluid communication with at least one of the cathode comprised of tin or the anode comprised of platinum. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolytic system of  claim 3 , wherein the cathode is in fluid communication with a first electrolyte, the anode is in fluid communication with a second electrolyte, and the first electrolyte and the second electrolyte are the same as or different from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolytic system of  claim 3 , wherein the electrolyte is an ionic liquid or an organic electrolyte. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolytic system of  claim 5 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of triflate ions, borate ions, phosphate ions, imidazolium ions, pyridinium ions, pyrrolidinium ions, ammonium ions, phosphonium ions, halides and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolytic system of  claim 5 , wherein the organic electrolyte comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, carbonates, bistriflimide, triflate, tosylate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolytic system of  claim 5 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one imidazolium salt. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolytic system of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode is a conducting tin or tin film cathode and the anode is a platinized anode. 
     
     
         10 . A method for electrochemically converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, wherein the method comprises electrolyzing carbon dioxide in an electrolytic system comprising an electrode comprised of tin and a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising continuously streaming carbon dioxide into the electrolytic system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode comprised of tin is a cathode and the electrolytic system further comprises an anode comprised of platinum and an electrolyte in fluid communication with at least one of the cathode comprised of tin or the anode comprised of platinum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte is an ionic liquid comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of triflate ions, borate ions, phosphate ions, imidazolium ions, pyridinium ions, pyrrolidinium ions, ammonium ions, phosphonium ions, halides and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte is an organic electrolyte comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, carbonates, bistriflimide, triflate, tosylate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises one or more imidazolium salts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cathode is in fluid communication with a first electrolyte, the anode is in fluid communication with a second electrolyte, and the first electrolyte and the second electrolyte are the same as or different from each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cathode is a conducting tin or tin film cathode and the anode is a platinized anode. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making an electrode comprising electrodepositing a tin-containing material onto a surface of an inert electrode substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising reducing a solution comprising a precursor to the tin-containing material and wherein the inert electrode substrate is a nickel electrode. 
     
     
         20 . An electrode comprising tin made by the method of  claim 18 .