Spin-polarized electrocatalytic reduction reactions, and catalysts therefor

Abstract

A method of producing ethanol by electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, comprises reducing carbon dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte on an electrocatalyst with electricity. The electrocatalyst is exposed to a magnetic field of at least 400 Gauss, the electrocatalyst comprises at least one paramagnetic material, and an amount of ethanol produced by the reducing is greater than an amount of ethanol produced without the magnetic field. Also described is a system for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, which comprises (a) and electrocatalyst, containing (i) copper and (ii) copper oxide, C60 and/or neodymium; (b) an aqueous electrolyte, in contact with the electrocatalyst; (c) a counter electrode, in ion-conductive contact with the electrocatalyst; (d) a magnet, for providing a magnetic field of at least 400 Gauss to the electrocatalyst; and (e) a power source, electronically connected to the electrocatalyst and the counter electrode.

1 . A method of producing ethanol by electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 reducing carbon dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte on an electrocatalyst with electricity,   wherein the electrocatalyst is exposed to a magnetic field of at least 400 gauss,   the electrocatalyst comprises at least one paramagnetic and/or ferromagnetic material, and   an amount of ethanol produced by the reducing is greater than an amount of ethanol produced without the magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrocatalyst comprises copper. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electrocatalyst further comprises copper oxide, C 60  and/or neodymium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is at least 800 gauss. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is at least 1200 gauss. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is produced using an electromagnet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FE of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), FE H2 , is decreased by at least 8%, as compared to FE H2  without a magnetic field. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FE of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), FE H2 , is decreased by at least 27%, as compared to FE H2  without a magnetic field. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FE of ethanol, FE ethanol , is at least 22%. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the FE of ethanol, FE ethanol , is at least 35%. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement factor for ethanol is at least 1.63-fold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement factor for ethanol is at least 1.95-fold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement factor for C 2+  products is at least 1.28-fold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement factor for C 2+  products is at least 1.36-fold. 
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing carbon dioxide electrocatalytically in a flow reactor, comprising:
 reducing carbon dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte on an electrocatalyst with electricity,   wherein the electrocatalyst is exposed to a magnetic field of at least 400 gauss,   the electrocatalyst comprises (i) copper and (ii) copper oxide, C 60  and/or neodymium, and   the faradaic efficiency (FE) is greater than the faradaic efficiency (FE) without the magnetic field.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the magnetic field is at least 800 gauss. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the magnetic field is at least 1200 gauss. 
     
     
         18 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A flow reactor for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 (a) and electrocatalyst, containing (i) copper and (ii) copper oxide, C 60  and/or neodymium,   (b) an aqueous electrolyte, in contact with the electrocatalyst,   (c) a counter electrode, in ion-conductive contact with the electrocatalyst,   (d) a magnet, for providing a magnetic field of at least 400 gauss to the electrocatalyst, and   (e) a power source, electronically connected to the electrocatalyst and the counter electrode.   
     
     
         28 . A flow reactor for electrocatalytic reduction, comprising:
 (a) and electrocatalyst, containing neodymium,   (b) an aqueous electrolyte, in contact with the electrocatalyst,   (c) a counter electrode, in ion-conductive contact with the electrocatalyst,   (d) a magnet, for providing a magnetic field of at least 400 gauss to the electrocatalyst, and   (e) a power source, electronically connected to the electrocatalyst and the counter electrode.   
     
     
         29 . A magnetically responsive electrocatalyst for an electrocatalytic reduction reaction, comprising:
 (i) a substrate,   (ii) neodymium, on the substrate, and   (iii) a non-magnetically responsive electrocatalytic material, on the neodymium.