Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using porous La 0.8Sr0.2CuO3 electrode

Abstract

La0.8Sr0.2CuO3 powder with the perovskite structure was prepared as electrode catalyst using citrate method. Porous electrode was made with as-prepared catalyst, carbon as supporter and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as hydrophobic binder. As results of potentiostatic electrolysis with potential of -1.5∼-2.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 M KOH at 5 and 10 oC on the porous electrode, liquid products were methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and 1, 2-butanol regardless reaction temperature, while gas products were methane, ethane and ethylene at 5 oC, and methane, ethane and propane at 10 oC respectively. Optimal potentials for CO2 reduction in the view of over all faradic efficiency were high values (-2.0 and -2.2 V) for gas products whereas low potential (-1.5 V) for liquid products regardless of concentration and temperature.