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Updated: Jun 5, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Repurposing First-Row Transition Metal Carbon Dioxide Reduction Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Carboxylation of
Pornwimon Kongkiatkrai1, Thana Anusanti1, Teera Chantarojsiri1
1Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Abstract:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an abundant and useful C1 feedstock for electrocarboxylation, a process that incorporates a carboxyl moiety into an organic molecule. In this work, three first-row transition metal CO2 reduction electrocatalysts, NiPDIiPr (1), NiTPA (2), and Fe(salenCl4) (3), were explored as electrocarboxylation catalysts with benzyl chloride as a substrate. The cyclic voltammograms of all three catalysts showed current enhancements in the presence of benzyl chloride under a CO2 atmosphere. Introduction of DMAP as additives showed further current enhancement. Electrolyses with one-compartment cell generated a moderate yield of phenylacetic acid. Addition of MgBr2 was proven to be crucial to the formation of the carboxylate product. While the yield of carboxylation was moderate, this work showed an example of electrocarboxylation of benzyl chloride without using a metal electrode or sacrificial anode, which could lead to a more sustainable carboxylation methodology.
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