(569by) Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 Using CTAB Modified Copper Molybdate Nanomaterial

Researchers across the world have been trying to develop feasible processes that can capture, store, and utilize CO₂ as the carbon source for the sustainable production of value-added fuels and chemicals. Electrocatalysis is one of the promising technologies via electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (ERC) that provides a carbon neutral energy network, and it is easy to operate, scale up, and implement for large-scale production. Room temperature synthesis of copper molybdate in aqueous medium using hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant is employed as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO₂ in the H cell reactor. The surfactant CTAB guides the growth of copper molybdate structure in particular nanorod shape. The FESEM image of copper molybdate depicts nanorod structure with an average diameter of 22 nm. The material characterizations like XRD, FTIR, BET, Raman, and XPS are conducted as evidence of the formation of the material. The electrochemical study of the material is performed in CO₂ saturated 0.5 M KHCO₃ medium in H cell reactor. Preliminary investigations show the formation of primarily acetaldehyde and other chemicals like alcohols in very small amount. The electrochemical activities of the material are recorded through linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry techniques. The suitable current density, high charge transfer ability, small Tafel slope, and high electrochemical active surface area of the material confirm the selection of the material as an efficient electrocatalyst. The formation of different CO₂ reduced liquid and gaseous products are identified in ¹H NMR and Gas Chromatography respectively. The formation of acetaldehyde with the Faradaic efficiency of 41% and selectivity of 80% at a potential of -0.931 V vs. RHE has been obtained after CO₂RR in H cell reactor. The stability and activity of the electrocatalyst are evaluated after the CO₂ reduction experiment using chronoamperometry and LSV respectively.