FISCHER-TROPSCH ELECTROCHEMICAL CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION TO GASEOUS FUELS

PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT IS INVESTIGATING NOVEL ELECTROCATALYSTS AS SITES FOR PROMOTING THE ELECTROCHEMICAL FISCHER-TROPSCH (EFT) REDUCTION OF CO2 TO GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS AT BOTH HIGH RATES AND LOW OVERPOTENTIALS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THESE ELECTROCATALYSTS WILL POSSESS HIGH ACTIVITY FOR PROMOTING INITIAL CO2 REDUCTION TO ADSORBED CO, FOLLOWED BY POTENTIAL ASSISTED C-O BOND BREAKAGE TO GIVE ADSORBED CARBON. AFTER HYDROGENATION TO GIVE INTERMEDIATE CARBENE SPECIES, DIMERIZATION WILL OCCUR, LEADING TO PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE. PREFERRED ELECTROCATALYSTS WILL BE DISPERSED WITHIN GAS-DIFFUSION ELECTRODES AND OPERATED IN ELECTROLYTIC CELLS COMPATIBLE WITH PROMOTING THE EFT REACTION UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.