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A long-time challenge in aqueous CO 2 electrochemical reduction is to catalyze the formation of products beyond carbon monoxide with selectivity. Formaldehyde is the simplest of these products and one of the most relevant due to its broad use in the industry. Paradoxically it is one of the less reported product. Such scarcity may be in part explained by difficult identification and quantification using conventional chromatography or proton nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Likewise, indirect detection methods are usually not compatible with labelled studies for asserting product origin. Recently, the possible production of formaldehyde during electrochemical reduction of carbon monoxide to methanol at cobalt phthalocyanine molecular catalyst in basic media has been the object of contradictory reports. By applying an analytical procedure based on proton NMR along with labelled studies, we provide definitive evidence for HCHO formation. We have further identified the possible scenarios for methanol formation through formaldehyde and revealed that the formation of the intermediate and its subsequent reduction are taking place at the same single active site. These studies open a new perspective to improve selectivity toward formaldehyde formation and to develop a subsequent chemistry based on reacting it with nucleophiles., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Photo‐electrochemical production of solar fuels from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight is an appealing approach. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to scale despite encouraging demonstrations at low power input. Higher current densities require notable voltage input as ohmic losses and activation overpotentials become more significant, resulting in lower solar‐to‐CO conversion efficiencies. A concentrated photovoltaic cell is integrated into a custom‐made heat managed photo‐electrochemical device. The heat is transferred from the photovoltaic module to the zero‐gap electrolyzer cell by the stream of anodic reactant and produce synergetic effects on both sides. With solar concentrations up to 450 suns (i.e., 450 kW m−2) applied for the first time to photo‐electrochemical reduction of CO2, a partial current for CO production of 4 A is achieved. At optimal conditions, the solar‐to‐CO conversion efficiency reaches 17% while maintaining a current density of 150 mA cm−2 in the electrolyzer and a CO selectivity above 90%, representing an overall 19% solar‐to‐fuel conversion efficiency. This study represents a first demonstration of photo‐electrochemical CO2 reduction under highly concentrated light, paving the way for resource efficient solar fuel production at high power input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long‐time challenge in aqueous CO2 electrochemical reduction is to catalyze the formation of products beyond carbon monoxide with selectivity. Formaldehyde is the simplest of these products and one of the most relevant due to its broad use in the industry. Paradoxically it is one of the less reported product. Such scarcity may be in part explained by difficult identification and quantification using conventional chromatography or proton nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Likewise, indirect detection methods are usually not compatible with labelled studies for asserting product origin. Recently, the possible production of formaldehyde during electrochemical reduction of carbon monoxide to methanol at cobalt phthalocyanine molecular catalyst in basic media has been the object of contradictory reports. By applying an analytical procedure based on proton NMR along with labelled studies, we provide definitive evidence for HCHO formation. We have further identified the possible scenarios for methanol formation through formaldehyde and revealed that the formation of the intermediate and its subsequent reduction are taking place at the same single active site. These studies open a new perspective to improve selectivity toward formaldehyde formation and to develop a subsequent chemistry based on reacting it with nucleophiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial photosynthesis is a vibrant field of research aiming at converting abundant, low energy molecules such as water, nitrogen or carbon dioxide into fuels or useful chemicals by means of solar energy input. Photo-electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is an appealing strategy, aiming at reducing the greenhouse gas into valuable products such as carbon monoxide at low or without bias voltage. Yet, in such configuration, there is no catalytic system able to produce carbon monoxide selectively in aqueous media with high activity, and using earth-abundant molecular catalyst. Upon associating a p-type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 semi-conductor with cobalt quaterpyridine complex, we herein report a photocathode complying with the aforementioned requirements. Pure carbon dioxide dissolved in aqueous solution (pH 6.8) is converted to carbon monoxide under visible light illumination with partial current density above 3 mA cm−2 and 97% selectivity, showing good stability over time. Photo-electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is a promising strategy to derive valuable products. Here, the authors show a photocathode able to produce carbon monoxide selectively in aqueous media with high activity using earth-abundant molecular catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of CO2 into valuable molecules is a field of intensive investigation with the aim of developing scalable technologies for making fuels using renewable energy sources. While electrochemical reduction into CO and formate are approaching industrial maturity, a current challenge is obtaining more reduced products like methanol. However, literature on the matter is scarce, and even more for the use of molecular catalysts. Here, we demonstrate that cobalt phthalocyanine, a well‐known catalyst for the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO, can also catalyze the reaction from CO2 or CO to methanol in aqueous electrolytes at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. The studies identify formaldehyde as a key intermediate and an unexpected pH effect on selectivity. This paves the way for establishing a sequential process where CO2 is first converted to CO which is subsequently used as a reactant to produce methanol. Under ideal conditions, the reaction shows a global Faradaic efficiency of 19.5 % and chemical selectivity of 7.5 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]