Abstract
In this study, polytriphenylamine was used as a cathode for electrochemical CO₂ reduction to yield formate and methanol at moderate overpotentials and Faradaic efficiencies. Suitable polymer support networks were identified and blending techniques were established to formulate composite polymeric electrodes which could be processed by 3D printing.Polyethylene oxide and polypropylene support networks were used in the first part of the study, and the information obtained using these materials informed the choice of PIM-1, a polymer of intrinsic microporosity, as the final support network investigated. Product actualisation was achieved using the polypropylene composites, as an electrode with complex architecture was printed successfully.
The PIM-1-based composites showed the highest activity towards electrochemical CO₂ reduction of the composites investigated, owing to the affinity of PIM-1 to CO₂ and its intrinsic microporosity. CO₂ was selectively reduced to methanol at a low overpotential of -0.5 V vs RHE with a Faradaic efficiency of 91.2%. This study shows that mechanically-robust electrodes for CO₂ reduction containing conjugated microporous polymers can be formulated and their geometry precisely controlled by 3D printing. Printable and porous polymer materials show promise as electrode materials for ECO₂R.
| Date of Award | 6 Dec 2022 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Avinash J Patil (Supervisor) & Charl F J Faul (Supervisor) |