Highly selective CO2 electrolysis in aqueous media by a water-soluble cobalt dimethyl-bipyridine complex†
Abstract
A water-soluble Co complex with dimethyl-bipyridine ligands reduced CO2 to CO electrochemically with almost 100% selectivity at −0.80 V vs. NHE in an aqueous medium (pH 6.8) without an organic solvent. The reaction overpotential was 270 mV. A possible CO formation mechanism was discussed based on experiments and calculations.