title: The Formation of CO by Thermal Decomposition of Formic Acid under Electrochemical Conditions of CO2 Reduction.
abstract: We report that the thermal decomposition of formic acid to CO may occur under electrochemically-relevant conditions by mild heating. These thermal effects may play a role in the outcome of electrolytic experiments as an artifact of resistive, local heating and illumination. This non-Faradaic reactivity pathway may therefore need consideration in the analysis of electrochemical data on CO2 reduction to formic acid and CO and may become a hindrance in scaleup efforts of these chemical transformations. IR visual thermometry provides evidence of macroscopic heating effects during electrolytic experiments.
authors.affiliation: Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States.
authors.forename: Aidan Q
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.affiliation: Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States.
authors.forename: Oana R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Luca
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005561:Formates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide