Metal-doped carbon xerogels for the electro-catalytic conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons

Original carbon xerogels doped with transition metals Ni, Cu or Fe have been prepared as cathodes for the electro-catalytic reduction of CO2 at atmospheric pressure. Commercial metallic and carbon materials have been also tested as cathodes for comparison, and the leaching of Ni based cathodes during reaction has been analyzed. Carbon xerogels doped with transition metals work very well as electro-catalysts in the transformation of CO2 to gaseous hydrocarbons C1–C4. The product distribution strongly depends on the metal. In this reduction process not only the type of metal but also the textural and chemical properties of the carbon xerogel play an important role in the electro-catalytic performance. The use of xerogel-based electrodes considerably reduces the amount of transition metal required.