Energy efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using a three-dimensional porphyrin/graphene hydrogel

Authors

Jaecheol Choi, University of WollongongFollow
Jeonghun Kim, University of QueenslandFollow
Pawel W. Wagner, University of WollongongFollow
Sanjeev Gambhir, University of WollongongFollow
Rouhollah Jalili, University of Wollongong, University of New South WalesFollow
Seoungwoo Byun, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
Sepidar Sayyar, University of WollongongFollow
Yong Min Lee, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
Douglas R. MacFarlane, Monash UniversityFollow
Gordon G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow
David L. Officer, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

133706

Publication Details

Choi, J., Kim, J., Wagner, P., Gambhir, S., Jalili, R., Byun, S., Sayyar, S., Lee, Y., MacFarlane, D. R., Wallace, G. G. & Officer, D. L. (2019). Energy efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using a three-dimensional porphyrin/graphene hydrogel. Energy and Environmental Science, 12 (2), 747-755.

Abstract

Although electrochemical CO₂ reduction is one of the most promising ways to convert atmospheric CO₂ into value-added chemicals, there are still numerous limitations to overcome to achieve highly efficient CO₂ conversion performance. Herein, we report for the first time the development and use of a three-dimensional iron porphyrin-based graphene hydrogel (FePGH) as an electrocatalyst for extremely efficient robust CO₂ reduction to CO. Electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion was performed in aqueous medium with FePGH, which has a highly porous and conductive 3D graphene structure, resulting in high catalytic activity for CO production with -96.2% faradaic efficiency at a very low overpotential of 280 mV. Furthermore, FePGH showed considerable catalytic durability maintaining a consistent CO yield (96.4% FE) over 20 h electrolysis at the same overpotential, corresponding to the highest cathodic energy efficiency yet observed of 79.7% compared to other state-of-the-art immobilised metal complex electrocatalysts. This approach to fabricating a 3D graphene-based hydrogel electrocatalyst should provide an exciting new avenue for the development of other kinds of molecular electrocatalysts.

Grant Number

ARC/CE140100012