Method for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide

Abstract

A method of forming an electrode including dissolving a copper salt and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate in a solvent and heating to a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. to form a framework. Further, the method includes mixing a zinc salt and the framework to form a zinc doped framework and heating the zinc doped framework to a temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. under air to form ZnCuO nanoparticles. Furthermore, the method includes mixing the ZnCuO nanoparticles, a binding compound, and a conductive carbon compound in a solvent to form a suspension. Moreover, the method includes coating a substrate with the suspension and drying to form the electrode and the ZnCuO nanoparticles have an oval shape with an average size of 50 nm to 200 nm.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for electrocatalytically reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), comprising:
 applying a potential of less than 0 V to −2.0 V vs RHE to an electrochemical cell,   wherein the electrochemical cell is at least partially submerged in an aqueous solution comprising carbon dioxide,   wherein on applying the potential the carbon dioxide is reduced to a conversion product,   wherein the electrochemical cell comprises:   an electrode; and   a counter electrode;   wherein the electrode is made by:
 dissolving a copper salt and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate in a solvent and heating to a temperature of 60-100° C. to form a framework; 
 mixing a zinc salt and the framework to form a zinc doped framework; 
 heating the zinc doped framework to a temperature of 300° C. to 600° C. under air to form ZnCuO nanoparticles; 
 mixing the ZnCuO nanoparticles, a binding compound, and a conductive carbon compound in a solvent to form a suspension; and 
 coating a substrate with the suspension and drying to form the electrode; 
 wherein the ZnCuO nanoparticles on the substrate have an oval shape with an average size of 50 nm to 200 nm. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the conversion product is selected from ethane and carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a base selected from at least one of sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , having a faradic efficiency for reducing carbon dioxide to ethane of 35% to 45%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , having a faradic efficiency for reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide of 50% to 60%. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the aqueous solution is saturated with the carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ZnCuO nanoparticles comprise 5 mol % to 50 mol % Zn, relative to a total number of Zn and Cu moles in the ZnCuO nanoparticles. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ZnCuO nanoparticles comprise Cu, C, Zn, and O. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ZnCuO nanoparticles comprise 30 wt. % to 40 wt. % Cu, 30 wt. % to 40 wt. % C, 10 wt. % to 20 wt. % Zn, and 10 wt. % to 20 wt. % O. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ZnCuO nanoparticles comprise CuO and ZnO and wherein the CuO has a monoclinic crystal structure and the ZnO has a hexagonal crystal structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the conductive carbon compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of graphite, activated carbon, reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and carbon black. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the binding compound is a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of conductive carbon, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, copper, platinum, zinc, tungsten, and titanium.