Highly selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using Cu based metal organic framework as an electrocatalyst

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide at Cu based metal organic framework film surface was studied in N,N-dimethylformamide containing tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate with saturated CO2. Cyclic voltammetric studies of the MOF film immobilized onto GC in 0.1 M KCl clearly showed the well defined Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(0) reversible redox responses. In the presence of saturated CO2/TBATFB/DMF solution, the cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that the electrochemically generated Cu(I) formed adduct with carbon dioxide in-situ and on further formed oxalic acid. The formation of oxalic acid was confirmed by GCMS in bulk electrolysis experiment. A detailed mechanism for the formation of oxalic acid was also discussed in this communication.