Methanol generation device, method for generating methanol, and electrode for generating methanol

Abstract

The present invention provides a methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode. The cathode electrode has a region of Cu 1-x-y Ni x Au y (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1). The anode electrode has a region of a metal or a metal compound.

1 . A methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising:
 a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide;   a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution;   an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; and   an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode,   wherein   the cathode electrode includes a region of Cu 1-x-y Ni x Au y  (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1); and   the anode electrode includes a region of a metal or a metal compound.   
     
     
         2 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the Cu 1-x-y Ni x Au y  is a solid solution or intermetallic compound of Cu, Ni, and Au.   
     
     
         3 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the value of x is more than 0 and not more than 0.20; and   the value of y is not less than 0.005 and not more than 0.05.   
     
     
         4 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the anode electrode is formed of carbon, platinum, gold, silver, copper, titanium, iridium oxide, or an alloy thereof.   
     
     
         5 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrolyte solution is a potassium chloride aqueous solution or a sodium chloride aqueous solution.   
     
     
         6 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an absolute value of the voltage is not less than 2.5 volts.   
     
     
         7 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reference electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution,   wherein   the reference electrode has a region of Ag/AgCl; and   the voltage to be applied by the external power supply to the cathode electrode with respect to a potential of the reference electrode is not more than −1.7 volts.   
     
     
         8 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solid electrolyte membrane for dividing the container into a cathode container for storing a first electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide and an anode container for storing a second electrolyte solution.   
     
     
         9 . The methanol generation device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first electrolyte solution is a potassium chloride aqueous solution or a sodium chloride aqueous solution; and   the second electrolyte solution is a potassium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, a sodium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, or a potassium sulfate aqueous solution.   
     
     
         10 . A method for generating methanol using a methanol generation device, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing the methanol generation device comprising:
 a container; 
 a cathode electrode; and 
 an anode electrode, 
   wherein   the cathode electrode includes a region of Cu 1-x-y Ni x Au y  (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1);   the anode electrode includes a region of a metal or a metal compound;   an electrolyte solution is stored in the container;   the cathode electrode is in contact with the electrolyte solution;   the anode electrode is in contact with the electrolyte solution; and   the electrolyte solution contains carbon dioxide; and   (b) reducing the carbon dioxide contained in the electrolyte solution by applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode to generate methanol on the cathode electrode.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the methanol generation device is placed under room temperature and atmospheric pressure in step (b).   
     
     
         12 . An electrode for generating methanol used for a methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising:
 a region of Cu 1-x-y Ni x Au y  (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1).