Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by substituted pyridine and pyrazole complexes of palladium

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0013-4686(96)00136-3

A series of [PdCl₂L₂] complexes (L = substituted pyridine and pyrazole) has been tried as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO₂ in acetonitrile (AN) containing 0.1 M tetraethylammonium perchlorate (TEAP) at glassy carbon or Pt electrodes. The complexes working as the catalyst were [PdCl₂L₂] (L = Pyrazole (Pyra), 4-Methylpyridine (4-Mpy) and 3-methylpyrazole (3-Mpyra)) at an applied potential of -1.10V vs Ag/10mM Ag⁺ and the reduction products were formic acid and H₂ with no CO. The current efficiency for the formation of formic acid were 10, 20 and 10.2% for Pd complexes of Pyra, 4-Mpy and 3-Mpyra, respectively. The current efficiency for the hydrogen evolution were 31-54%, and the source of the formate proton and hydrogen was from the added water (4% by volume). Copyright