Abstract
In response to challenges of energy crisis, global warming and climate change, electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction to produce chemicals or low-carbon fuels can serve as a means for carbon neutral and therefore has attracted much attention recently. The notorious greenhouse gas carbon dioxide can then become feedstock to synthesize numerous low-carbon fuels such as formate/formic acid, methanol, ethanol and others to provide renewable energy storage with high energy density forms. However, most of electrochemical reduction processes utilize precious metals (platinum or palladium) as electrode, or apply harsh temperature/pressure conditions which may limit the development of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide toward industrial applications. In this thesis work, we use copper nanoparticle decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which is derived from one of the most abundant elements (i.e. carbon), as the electrochemical reduction electrode. The process can achieve carbon dioxide reduction with lower working potential. Electrode materials of platinum, palladium, rGO and copper decorated rGO as working potential were compared. The influences of reduction potential, electrode material and electrolyte acidity on production yield were discussed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and gas chromatography. In addition, this process was conducted under ambient temperature/pressure without harsh condition or complicated equipments. The rGO/Cu electrode can achieve a cost reduction of 95% in average compared to precious metal electrodes (Pt and Pd). The work shall pave a new path toward developing carbon dioxide reduction electrodes and further promote development of electrochemical reduction process toward carbon dioxide derived low-carbon fuels.