Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 using Cu-Pd clusters on Graphene

Authors

Marcus A. Ochsendorf, Valparaiso UniversityFollow

Primary Submission Contact

Marcus Ochsendorf

Faculty Sponsor

Haiying He

Faculty Sponsor Email Address

haiying.he@valpo.edu

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Physics and Astronomy

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Date

Fall 10-27-2017

Abstract

In this study, five copper-palladium clusters supported on defective graphene were investigated as catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ using the first-principles approach and the computational hydrogen electrode model. The limiting potential to reduce CO₂ to CH₄ using five different copper-palladium catalysts was determined. Of all the catalysts studied, the best one was the Cu₂Pd cluster. This cluster showed the lowest necessary overpotential (0.93 V) out of all the catalysts examined to produce CH₄. Reaction pathways to produce a variety of C1 products CO, HCOOH, HCHO, CH₃OH and CH₄ was studied in detail for Cu₂Pd. From the pathways, it was determined that it will likely produce CH₄ and HCOOH.

Recommended Citation

Ochsendorf, Marcus A., "Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 using Cu-Pd clusters on Graphene" (2017). Fall Interdisciplinary Research Symposium. 90.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/fires/90