Polyethylenimine-Enhanced Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO 2 to Formate at Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanomaterials

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are selective and robust electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction to formate in aqueous media without the use of a metal catalyst. Polyethylenimine (PEI) functions as a co-catalyst by significantly reducing catalytic overpotential and increasing current density and efficiency. The co-catalysis appears to help in stabilizing the singly reduced intermediate CO2(•-) and concentrating CO2 in the PEI overlayer.

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: DMR-1106173
• BE
  Basic Energy Sciences

  Award: DE-SC0001011