Electrochemical Reduction of High Pressure Carbon Dioxide on Metal Electrodes and Gas Diffusion Electrodes

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide under high pressure on Fe electrodes and a gas diffusion electrode containing Pt catalyst (Pt-GDE) had been investigated. Formic acid was formed on Fe electrode with a faradaic efficiency of 60% at a current density of $120mA\;cm^{-2}$ under 30 atm of $CO_2$. Hydrocarbons such as $CH_4$, $C_2H_6$, $C_3H_6$, $1-C_4H_8$, and $n-C_5H_{12}$ are also formed. The distribution of hydrocarbons followed well the Schultz-Flory distribution. $CH_4$ was formed efficiently as the main reduction product on Pt-GDE.