MoS2

Project: The goal of this project was to examine the electrochemical reduction of C02 with C-modified MoS2 catalysts

Why and how: The emission of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere, poses a big threat to the global climate. In the past century, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached disturbing quantities [1]. Developments in the electrochemical reduction of CO2 opens up new opportunities for the usage of CO2 as a carbon feedstock for fuel generation. The reduction of CO2 is a thermodynamic and kinetic challenging process. Hereby, the electrocatalyst and the electrolyte have a great influence on the electrochemical reduction of CO2. By means of methodology research, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) is performed to screen the effects of added carbon powder and different electrolyte concentrations. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is executed to generate an adsorption spectrum, which could indicate what products are formed during the electrochemical reduction. Next to this, Chronoamperometry (CA) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were performed to examine the electrochemical stability and durability. Various experiments were executed, wherein the concentration of potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) in the electrolyte was altered. The composition of the catalyst was also modified by adding carbon powder to the surface of the catalyst. The experiments showed that there is an optimum for the concentration of KHCO3 at which the EC performed best. The addition of carbon on the electrocatalyst surface also showed enhancing conductivity properties. A short report, found below, elaborates on the results.