Electrochemical reduction of CO2 by Cu2O-catalyzed carbon clothes

Cu2O cubes with average edge lengths of 640 nm were prepared by a chemical reduction approach. The as-synthesized Cu2O particles were deposited on carbon clothes for electrochemical characterizations in cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentiostatic measurements. In 0.5 M NaOH electrolytes saturated with N-2 or CO2, both the Cu2O and carbon clothes were stable at the potential range of 0 to -1.7 V. Comparisons in the Current responses from the CV and potentiostatic measurements suggested the Cu2O with notable catalytic abilities for the CO2 reduction. The mass activity was estimated at 0.94 mA/mg. Chemical analysis from gas chromatography confirmed the methanol to be the predominant product. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.