Skip to main content

Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

Fixation of CO2: Avenues Toward Artificial Photosynthesis

Chemical fixation of carbon dioxide is attractive both for more effectively exploiting carbon-based energy sources and reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere [1]. Photosynthesis is a common example of CO2 fixation; this process builds organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water using solar energy with chlorophyll acting as a catalyst [2]. Over the past several decades, chemists have studied this naturally occurring carbon fixation process as a model for manufacturing synthetic fuels [3]. Efforts towards obtaining synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from CO2 have been motivated by the unparalleled energy density of hydrocarbons, which constitute the backbone of our present-day energy infrastructure [4], and by the need to cope with increasing atmospheric CO2 released by the burning of fossil fuels.

As anthropogenic carbon dioxide production exceeds the planet’s carbon dioxide recycling capability, it causes significant...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   999.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hori Y (2008) Electrochemical CO2 reduction on metal electrodes. In: Vayenas C et al (eds) Modern aspects of electrochemistry, 42nd edn. Springer, New York, pp 89–189

    Google Scholar 

  2. Olah GA, Prakash GKS, Goeppert A (2011) Anthropogenic chemical carbon cycle for a sustainable future. J Am Chem Soc 133:12881–12898

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bockris JO’M, Khan SUM (1993) Surface electrochemistry. A molecular level approach. Plenum Press, New York/London, pp 534–541

    Google Scholar 

  4. Peterson AA, Abild-Pedersen F, Studt F, Rossmeisl J, Nørskov JK (2010) How copper catalyzes the electroreduction of carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon fuels. Energy Environ Sci 3:1311–1315

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Graves C, Ebbesen SD, Mogensen M, Lackner KS (2011) Sustainable hydrocarbon fuels by recycling CO2 and H2O with renewable or nuclear energy. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 15:1–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Spinner NS, Vega JA, Mustain WE (2012) Recent progress in the electrochemical conversion and utilization of CO2. Catal Sci Technol 2:19–28

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hori Y, Murata A, Takahashi R, Suzuki S (1987) Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide at a gold electrode in aqueous potassium hydrogen carbonate. Chem Commun 10:728–729

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chaplin RPS, Wragg AA (2003) Effects of process conditions and electrode material on reaction pathway for carbon dioxide electroreduction with particular reference to formate formation. J Appl Electrochem 33:1107–1023

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jitaru M, Lowy DA, Toma BC, Toma M, Oniciu L (1997) The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on flat metallic electrodes. J Appl Electrochem 27:875–889

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pérez-Rodriquez S, García G, Calvillo L, Celorrio V, Pastor E, Lázaro MJ (2011) Carbon-supported Fe catalyst for CO2 electroreduction to high-added value products: a DEMS study: effect of the functionalization of the support. Int J Electrochem. Article ID 249804, 1–13. doi:10.4061/2011/249804

    Google Scholar 

  11. Machunda RL, Ju HKK, Lee J (2011) Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 gas at Sn based gas diffusion electrode. Curr Appl Phys 11:986–988

    Google Scholar 

  12. Machunda RL, Lee JG, Lee J (2010) Microstructural surface changes of electrodeposited Pb on gas diffusion electrode during electroreduction of gas-phase CO2. Surf Interface Anal 42:564–567

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Whipple DT, Finke EC, Kenis PJA (2010) Microfluidic reactor for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide: the effect of pH. Electrochem Solid-State Lett 13:B109–B111

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Oloman C, Li H (2008) Electrochemical processing of carbon dioxide. Chem Sus Chem 1:385–391

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Yano H, Shirai FM, Nakayama M, Ogura K (2002) Electrochemical reduction of CO2 at three-phase (gas/liquid/solid) and two-phase (liquid/solid) interfaces on Ag electrodes. J Electroanal Chem 533:113–118

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hori Y, Wakebe H, Tsukamoto T, Koga O (1994) Electrocatalytic process of CO selectivity in electrochemical reduction of CO2 at metal electrodes in aqueous media. Electrochim Acta 39:1833–1839

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Agarwal AS, Zhai YM, Hill D, Sridhar N (2011) The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate/formic acid: engineering and economic feasibility. Chem Sus Chem 4:1301–1310

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Narayanan SR, Haines B, Soler J, Valdez TI (2011) Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to formate in alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane cells. J Electrochem Soc 158:A167–A173

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Centi G, Perathoner S, Winè G, Gangeri M (2007) Electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to long carbon-chain hydrocarbons. Green Chem 9:671–678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yegulalp TM, Lackner KS, Ziock HJ (2001) A review of emerging technologies for sustainable use of coal for power generation. Int J Surf Mining Reclamation Environ 15:52–68. doi:10.1076/ijsm.15.1.52.3423

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Martin FJ, Kubic WL (2007) Green freedom, a concept for producing carbon-neutral synthetic fuels and chemicals. Los Alamos National Laboratory, LA-UR-07-7897 (Nov. 2007)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gattrell M, Gupta N, Co A (2006) A review of the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons on copper. J Electroanal Chem 594:1–19

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Jitaru .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Jitaru, M., Lowy, D. (2014). Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide. In: Kreysa, G., Ota, Ki., Savinell, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Applied Electrochemistry. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6996-5_102

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics