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Harnessing Active Protons through Parasitic Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Selective Electrochemical CO2 Reduction in
Ankit Kumar Singh1, Nitul Kalita1, Mohammad Qureshi1
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to formate in aprotic electrolytes. This strategy engineers the electrochemical environment, enabling controlled proton delivery and achieving high efficiency without protic solvents.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Electrochemical reduction of CO2 is crucial for converting waste CO2 into valuable products.
- Achieving hydrogenated CO2 reduction products in aprotic electrolytes is difficult due to limited proton availability.
- The local microenvironment significantly impacts CO2 electroreduction efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy for efficient electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate in aprotic electrolytes.
- To enable controlled proton delivery without using protic solvents.
- To enhance formate production while suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Main Methods:
- Electrochemical environment engineering using a decoupled proton generation protocol.
- Controlled ex situ proton transport from the anodic to the cathodic compartment.
- Utilizing aprotic catholytes and aqueous anolytes with tetrabutylammonium cation (TBA-H+).
Main Results:
- Achieved a high Faradaic efficiency of 93.2% for formate production.
- Successfully suppressed the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
- Demonstrated effective formate generation without the addition of any protic solvent.
Conclusions:
- The engineered electrochemical environment facilitates efficient CO2 reduction to formate in aprotic media.
- Decoupled proton generation and controlled transport are key to overcoming limitations in aprotic electrolytes.
- This approach offers a promising pathway for sustainable CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals.
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