ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE TO FORMIC ACID AT TIN CATHODE IN DIVIDED AND UNDIVIDED CELLS: EFFECT OF OPERATING PARAMETERS

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is considered a relevant topic for both the synthesis of chemicals and the decrease of global warming. Electrochemical processes could utilize excess energy from intermittent renewable sources to convert carbon dioxide in various products such as CO, formate and formic acid, methane and ethylene in water and oxalic acid, formic acid, CO as well as carboxylic acids (by reaction with suitable reagents such as aromatic ketones or benzylic halides) in aprotic solvents [1-3]. It has been shown that the selectivity of the process dramatically depends on the nature of the cathode. Four distinct classes of metal catalysts have been identified on the b…