Lutetium Monophthalocyanine and Diphthalocyanine Complexes and Lithium Naphthalocyanine as Catalysts for Electrochemical CO[sub 2] Reduction

Phthalocyanine and naphthalocyanine complexes with redox-inactive metals adsorbed on activated carbon supports were shown to be effective catalysts for electroreduction in the form of gas diffusion electrodes, yielding carbon monoxide with current efficiencies up to ca. 75%. A mechanism for electroreduction catalyzed by these complexes has been proposed in which the key step is the coordination of a molecule to the external N-atom of the phthalocyanine or naphthalocyanine ring.