A combinatorial approach for homogenous molecular electro-catalyst screening for CO2 reduction by means of a high-throughput 25-well parallel electrolyzer is proposed. The potential catalysts were synthesized in situ by mixing solutions of metal salts and ligands together, and placing it directly into the electrolyzer cell. The cell, which incorporates screen printed metal electrodes placed inside a Teflon well block, was then used to perform bulk electrolysis. Active catalysts were then screened by three methods: (1) the presence of CO gas in the electrolyzer head space; (2) a pH change of the individual solutions from before and after bulk electrolysis due to proton consumption during CO2 reduction; and (3) other physical attributes of the solution, such as degradation of the possible catalyst. Of the 25 solutions made, two were selected for further analysis after initial screening. Of the two, nickel cyclam, a well-known CO2 reduction catalyst, was correctly identified to be active.

Design of a high throughput 25-well parallel electrolyzer for the accelerated discovery of CO2 reduction catalysts via a combinatorial approach

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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