title: High-yield electrochemical production of formaldehyde from CO2 and seawater.
abstract: The catalytic, electrocatalytic, or photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into useful chemicals in high yield for industrial applications has so far proven difficult. Herein, we present our work on the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in seawater using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode under ambient conditions to produce formaldehyde. This method overcomes the usual limitation of the low yield of higher-order products, and also reduces the generation of H2 . In comparison with other electrode materials, BDD electrodes have a wide potential window and high electrochemical stability, and, moreover, exhibit very high Faradaic efficiency (74%) for the production of formaldehyde, using either methanol, aqueous NaCl, or seawater as the electrolyte. The high Faradaic efficiency is attributed to the sp(3)-bonded carbon of the BDD. Our results have wide ranging implications for the efficient and cost-effective conversion of CO2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510 (Japan); Research Institute for Science and Technology, Photocatalysis International Research Center, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510 (Japan). nakata@rs.tus.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujishima
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Einaga
mesh_terms: D001895:Boron / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011312:Pressure; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D018130:Diamond; D001895:Boron; D000432:Methanol
keywords: CO2 reduction; boron; electrochemistry; formaldehyde; seawater