Comparison of copper nanoparticle and NGQDs electrocatalysts
for the electroreduction of carbon dioxide
Yerbolat Magazov
Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University,
Astana, Kazakhstan
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide is a well-known greenhouse gas, and although it is a waste product of
combustion process, CO 2 has a potential to be a feedstock in production of low-carbon fuels.
Therefore, diminishing the CO 2 generation and conversion it into useful materials become more
important and, indeed necessary to protect the environment. Though it is worth noting that
electroreduction of carbon dioxide is a complex, but promising conversion technology. Among
tested electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction, which involves metals, carbon nanostructures and
organometallic compounds, only N-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) and copper
nanoparticles (Cu NPs) displayed a selectivity with high efficiency in formation of
hydrocarbons and multi-carbon oxygenates (HCOOH, CH 2 O, CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH). The main
purpose of this project is to study the catalysts’ activity and selectivity with measuring Faradaic
efficiency of both metal and metal-free electrocatalysts. Additionally, the influence of potential
(electrodes) on catalysts’ properties was studied in detail. The influence related with the
accomplishment of active and highly stable catalysts are assessed with the aim to reduce the
weakening of catalysts characteristics.