Stick it to Global Warming: Characterizing Catalytic Performance of CO2 Reduction with Catalyst Attached to Electrode Surface

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Release of CO2 from fossil fuel consumption has become a growing concern in recent years, with every ecosystem feeling its effects. There has been significant research in recent years on the performance of molecular electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction, because they are highly tunable and can be optimized. Unfortunately, molecular catalysts are difficult to recycle, and the majority of the catalyst placed in solution is effectively inactive as it is far from the electrode surface where reduction takes place. My group aims to mitigate these complications by covalently linking known molecular catalysts directly to the electrode surface, wherein it can immediately reduce CO2 that diffuses nearby. Towards this goal, I will study a manganese catalyst supported by a bipyridine ligand which will be covalently attached to a glassy carbon electrode. I predict that once attached to the surface, unproductive dimerization in solution will be inhibited, and we will be able to achieve higher catalytic efficiencies by significant enhancement of the local catalyst concentration near the electrode. Moreover, the proposed covalent immobilization of the catalyst to the electrode should impart higher stability in comparison to typically used immobilization strategies like absorption. This project will take a large step in the use of renewable energy sources by providing platform to begin integrating this well practiced CO2 reduction outside of the laboratory and into physical devices.

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