Potential Dependencies of the Products on Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide at a Copper Electrode

Abstract Potentiostatic electrochemical reduction of CO2 was carried out at a Cu electrode in 0.1 mol dm−3 KHCO3 aqueous solution at 298 K. As reduction products from CO2, HCOO−, CO, CH4, C2H4, CH3CHO, C2H5OH, C2H5CHO, n-C3H7OH etc. were detected and determined by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The composition of these products changed drastically with a slight variation of electrode potential.