Electrochemical CO2 reduction on a copper wire electrode in tetraethylammonium perchlorate plus methanol at extremely low temperature

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 in tetraethylammonium perchlorate + methanol electrolyte was investigated with a copper wire electrode at an extremely low temperature (-30 degrees C). The main products from CO2 by the electrochemical reduction were methane ethylene, carbon monoxide, and formic acid. Under the optimum experimental conditions, 28.1% faradaic efficiency methane, 7.2% ethylene, 67.8% carbon monoxide, and 23.2% formic acid Mere produced from CO2 by the electrochemical reduction. The maximum partial current densities for CO2 reduction and hydrocarbons were 4.5 and 1.6 mA cm(-2) at -4.0 V ts SCE, respectively. At -30 degrees C, the efficiency of hydrogen formation being a competitive reaction against CO2 reduction, was suppressed to less than 10.1%.