Manufacturing carbon-based combustibles by electrochemical decomposition of CO
View Patent ↗Provided is a method for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels. The method employs reducing CO 2 in an electrochemical cell using an aerogel carbon electrode and an ionic liquid membrane, thereby providing a carbon-based combustible.
1. A method for the preparation of a carbon-based combustible comprising reducing CO 2 in an electrochemical cell which comprises
an aerogel carbon electrode;
an ionic liquid gel or membrane;
an organic base comprising amine, added in the electrolyte or incorporated in the electrode, and
a catalyst scavenging superoxide ion radical produced during the reduction of oxygen.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid exhibits high ionic conductivity at ambient temperature and a wide electrochemical window.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said reducing CO 2 occurs at ambient temperature.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said gel comprises a synthetic or natural zeolite.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein said zeolite is montmorillonite K10.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid comprises 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluroborate.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said membrane comprises RTV polysiloxane and ionic liquid.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said organic base is ethylenediamine.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical cell provides high current densities for CO 2 reduction.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a material selected from porous copper or Ag, copper or Ag on carbon powder pressed on carbon paper (Cu/C, or Ag/C), or porous carbon in which metallic Cu or Ag is deposited, said cathode comprising ethylenediamine.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the anode is a gas diffusion electrode made of commercially available Pt/C or porous carbon in which metallic Pt is deposited.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is Mn(III) porphyrin exhibiting a good solubility in said ionic liquid, or which can be incorporated in the cathode.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein said porphyrin is Mn(III) tetra(orthoaminophenyl)porphyrin.
14. A method according to claim 1 , comprising ionic liquid saturated with porphyrin.
15. A method according to claim 1 , comprising manufacturing CO and H 2 .