The use of transition metal complexes as catalysts for the photochemical reduction of CO2 to useful products, such as CO, formate and ultimately methanol, has received significant attention. Such catalytic systems would permit the use of solar energy for the production of renewable fuels from captured CO2, thus relieving our dependence on fossil fuels. Unfortunately, current generation catalysts are inefficient and suffer from short lifetimes due to non-productive side reactions. In an effort to more fully understand the kinetics and mechanistic pathways of CO2 reduction catalysts following their initial one-electron reduction, we have made use of our recently developed technique of nanosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy in combination with pulse radiolysis. We have studied a range of catalysts, including [Re(bpy)(CO)3(CH3CN)]+, [Ru(bpy)2(CO)(H)]+ and a Co tetraaza-macrocycle, probing specific molecular vibrations such as ?(CO) of metal-bound CO2 following one-electron reduction. This research was supported under contract DE-AC02-98CH10886 with the US Department of Energy.

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of CO<sub>2</sub> reduction catalysts following one-electron reduction

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of CO2 reduction catalysts following one-electron reduction

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of CO₂ reduction catalysts following one-electron reduction