Electroreduction of CO₂ to Methanol Using a Coordination-Moiety-Anchored Carbon-Based Electrode

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ER) has gained wide attention lately because of its potential to create a closed carbon loop, offering a sustainable solution toward environmental as well as energy crisis. However, the key challenge lies in the selective conversion of CO₂ into electrofuels, such as methanol, which necessitates six proton-coupled electron transfers. In this work, we report the first instance of an electrochemically prepared Cu-coordinated 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-modified carbon fiber paper electrode (CDM@CFP). The hence-engineered novel electrode was applied for the CO₂ER reaction to produce methanol exclusively with an F.E. of 59.6% at a low potential of -0.73 V versus RHE. Unlike most of the copper-based electrocatalysts, which result in multiple hydrocarbons, here, we have optimized a potential-dependent selectivity for maximum efficiency, which is a significant milestone in the field.