Raman spectro‐electrochemistry. II. In situ raman spectroscopic studies of the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ at cobalt(II) phthalocyanine‐impregnated PTFE‐bonded carbon gas diffusion electrodes

The full resonance Raman spectra of cobalt(II) and cobalt(I) phthalocyanine are presented. By comparison with the Raman spectra of similar compounds, it has been possible to assign many of the bands. The resonance Raman spectrum of cobalt(II) phthalocyanine was replaced by that of cobalt(I) phthalocyanine when a PTFE‐bonded carbon gas diffusion electrode impregnated with a small amount of cobalt(II) phthalocyanine was maintained at a potential of −1.80 V, the gas side of the electrode being exposed to a carbon dioxide atmosphere. These results indicate that cobalt(I) phthalocyanine is a reactive intermediate in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide at cobalt(II) phthalocyanine‐impregnated electrodes.