Devices and processes for carbon dioxide conversion into useful fuels and chemicals

摘要

Electrochemical devices for converting carbon dioxide to useful reaction products include a solid or a liquid with a specific pH and/or water content. Chemical processes using the devices are also disclosed, including processes to produce CO, HCO−, H2CO, (HCO2)−, H2CO2, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO−, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO−)2, acrylic acid, diphenyl carbonate, other carbonates, other organic acids and synthetic fuels. The electrochemical device can be a CO2 sensor.

主权项

1. An electrochemical device for converting CO2 to a reaction product, the electrochemical device comprising a cathode, a source of CO2 in fluid communication with the cathode, a Helper Catalyst, and a component located within 1 mm of the cathode, wherein the Helper Catalyst is any organic molecule or ion, or a mixture of organic molecules and/or ions, excluding organo-metallic compounds, that does at least one of the following:
(i) speeds up a chemical reaction, or (ii) lowers the overpotential of the reaction, without being substantially consumed in the process, the component comprising at least one of:
(a) an electrolyte;(b) the Helper Catalyst;(c) a solution;(d) a liquid;(e) a Functional Unit of a polymer chain; and(f) a solid,wherein the component comprises a substance having a pH having a value of 1.1-5.5 when the pH of the substance is measured according to at least one of the following tests:
Test I: measuring the pH of the substance directly, using a pH meter; Test II: mixing a given volume of the substance with an equal volume of water and agitating, then measuring the pH of the resultant water-rich phase; Test III: mixing a given volume of the substance with an equal volume of isopropanol and stirring, then measuring the pH of the resultant alcohol-rich phase; and Test IV: mixing a given volume of the substance with an equal volume of isopropanol and agitating, adding 20% water by volume to the alcohol-rich phase, then measuring the pH of the resultant alcohol-rich phase.