Porphyrin/phthalocyanine CO2 electroreduction catalysts

We are interested in the development of new technology that uses CO2 to make chemicals or next-generation fuels. Such technology would address concerns about curbing emissions and alternative fuel sources. Our objective is to investigate catalysts that can selectively and efficiently convert CO2 to CO, which is desirable because CO is a valuable commercial compound that can be made into many other products. Metalloporphyrins are known catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO. The net reaction requires input of protons and electrons at the right time and to the appropriate activated chemical intermediate. Addition of local proton sources to porphyrins boosts their electrochemical CO2 reduction activity. Likewise, incorporation of these molecules into supramolecular, ordered materials can yield attractive properties (e.g. stability, selectivity). The proposed project leverages the electrochemical, structural characterization and metal-chemistry expertise at SFU (Leznoff/Warren groups) and the synthetic ability of our colleagues from France to investigate novel molecules and supramolecular linkers for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. The French group are experts in synthesis of phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins (PSPs) and unique bipyridine linkers that can enhance the surface-area at the CO2-electroreduction electrode surface.

Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Leznoff

Student:

Partner:

Université de Strasbourg

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: