A novel electrolysis cell for CO2 reduction to CO in ionic liquid/organic solvent electrolyte

• A novel electrolysis cell has been developed for CO2 reduction to CO.
• The cathode of the electrolysis cell exhibits a high efficiency for CO2 reduction.
• The resulting CO can be used as the feedstock for methanol synthesis.
• By recycling utilization of CO2, CO2 emission can be reduced on a large scale.

A novel electrolysis cell has been developed for CO2 reduction to CO in an ionic liquid/organic solvent electrolyte. The electrolysis cell is separated into two compartments by an ion-exchange membrane (Nafion117). The cathode compartment is filled with a CO2 saturated 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonates ([Bmim][CF3SO3])/propylene carbonate (PC) solution. The anode compartment is filled with a 0.1 M H2SO4 aqueous solution. A Ag foil and a graphite rod are used as the cathode and the anode respectively. In this electrolysis cell, CO2 reduction can be carried out in the nonaqueous electrolyte, and H2O oxidation can be carried out in the aqueous solution. Thus CO can be produced from CO2 and H2O. Owing to the high solubility of CO2 in the nonaqueous electrolyte, the Faradaic efficiency of CO formation is high, reached 90.1% at −1.72 V (vs Pt wire). After 3 h electrolysis, no poisonous species are observed on the cathode. The Ag electrode exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction to CO.