ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF CO2 USING A NOVEL ELECTRODE SYSTEM

A NOVEL, NEWLY DISCOVERED C60 CARBON WAS FOUND TO EXHIBIT UNIQUE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR. THE PROPERTIES OF THIS MATERIAL WILL BE INVESTIGATED AS A MEANS TO EVALUATE THE ABILITY TO ELECTROCHEMICALLY REDUCE CO2 AND PRODUCE OXYGEN FOR AIR REVITALIZATION IN MANNED SPACE STATIONS. ELECTROLYTES APPROPRIATE FOR THE CATALYTIC ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR OF C60 ELECTRODES WILL BE ESTABLISHED USING CYCLIC VOLTAMMETRY. A 2 AMP LABORATORY ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WILL BE OPERATED TO ESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT. THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL CULMINATE BY OPERATING A 5 AMP CELL FOR EXTENDED TIME PERIODS TO ESTABLISH THE OPTIMUM CATHODE MATERIAL, ANODE EFFICIENCY, CELL VOLTAGES, OPERATING CURRENTDENSITY, AND MATERIAL BALANCE. THE DEFINITION OF THESE VARIABLES WILL LEAD TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE ECONOMICS OFTHE OVERALL PROCESS.