Electrolyte Dependence for the Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Activity on Cu(111) Electrodes

Electrochemical activity of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction on a single-crystal copper electrode was studied in several electrolytes. By CO2 bubbling into these electrolytes, the large differences in electrolyte pH and the concentrations of dissolved CO2 could be ascribed to an electrolyte effect. The appearance of active CO2 for effective conversion into hydrocarbon emissions, which are major products in CO2 reduction, contributed to a decrease in electrolyte pH with CO2 saturation and a CO2 dissolution process. The electrochemical CO2 reduction activity on a single-crystal copper electrode was studied in several electrolytes. By CO2 bubbling into electrolytes, the large differences in electrolyte pH and concentrations of dissolved CO2 could be ascribed to an electrolyte effect. The appearance of active CO2 for effective conversion into hydrocarbon emissions using CO2 dissolution contributed to a decrease in the electrolyte pH.