The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to value-added products such as chemical fuels has garnered recent industrial interest as it provides a way to CO2 recycling and could, therefore, amend associated climate change and enhance the sustainability of oil reserves. Towards this goal, we have shown that iron carbonyl clusters are efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction in aqueous and non-aqueous conditions at low overpotentials. [Fe4N(CO)12]- selectively converts CO2 into formate at -1.2 V vs SCE with quantitative Faradaic efficiency and long term stability. In this talk I will present a more detailed investigation of the catalytic mechansim. Using variable temperature electrochemical studies we will present insights on the mechanism associated with the rate determining step in carbon dioxide reduction by the iron compound. Key catalytic intermediates were also detected and monitored using new approaches to infra-red spectroelectrochemical data collection and these techniques will be presented along with description of the mechanism.

Variable temperature spectral and electrochemical studies of carbon dioxide redcution by [Fe4N(CO)12]-: Mechanistic investigations

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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