Electrocatalytic Reductive Functionalization of Carbon Dioxide

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15671
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Li Yamei 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 特任助教 (10745128)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: CO2 fixation / electroreduction of CO2 / bio-inspired catalysis

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Here I utilized the heterocyclic compounds thiozolidine 4-carboxylic acid (TCA)composed of C, N and S serves as an analog of TPP with simpler structures. TCA was found to facilitate the CO2 fixation to generate various products, including formate, acetate, methanol and ethanol. The potential dependence (from -0.8 to -1.2 V vs. SHE) was studied. It was found that TCA will not only facilitate the generation of new products, but also promote the yield of formate generation.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

Due to COVID-19, the maternity leave, and the childcare leave, the experiments were delayed slightly.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

(1)Investigating the potential dependence of TCA promoted CO2 reduction; Several parameters,including pH, potential, concentration of TCA will be varied,in order to screen the optimal conditions for CO2 fixation.(2)Clarifying the mechanism of TCA-facilitated CO2 reduction. 13C-isotope labeled bicarbonate will be used, for tracing the conversion of carbon into different products,including carboxylic acids and alcohols.

Causes of Carryover

Due to COVID-19, maternity leave and childcare leave, the experiments were not conducted during these periods. Therefore, I would like to use the leftover budget to the next year research. The main use will be purchasing CO2 gas and other consumables.