Temperature dependence of the probability of chain growth for hydrocarbon formation by electrochemical reduction of CO2

The temperature dependence of the probability of chain growth was studied for hydrocarbons formed at Fe and Ni electrodes by electrochemical CO2 reduction. The faradaic efficiency for hydrocarbons increased with increasing temperature. The distribution of the produced hydrocarbons followed well the Schultz Flory equation. The probability of chain growth increased with increasing temperature. Based on the temperature dependence of the probability of chain growth, the mechanism of the electrochemical Fischer Tropsch reaction is discussed.