Journal Article

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 on Pb–Bi–Sn metal mixtures: importance of eutectics

Kumawat, Adhidesh S., Sarkar, A.

2019

Overview

Pure phases of Pb, Sn and Pb 70 Bi 30 , their combinations and the eutectics (Pb 25 Sn 75 , Pb 44 Bi 56 and Pb 29 Bi 46 Sn 25 ) of the Pb–Bi–Sn system were prepared and evaluated for electrochemical reduction of CO 2 at − 2.0 V (vs Hg/HgO). The bulk composition, the phase structure and the surface composition were characterized by inductively ICP-AES, XRD and XPS respectively. The phases obtained from XRD data matches well with the ternary phase diagram of Pb, Bi and Sn. The electrochemical characterization was done by CV and LSV. The formation rate of formate ions was compared for all the alloy catalysts at − 2.0 V (vs Hg/HgO) in CO 2 saturated 0.5 M NaHCO 3 . It was observed that addition of both Bi and Sn individually or both concurrently to Pb increases the rate of formate ion production for Pb–Bi, Pb–Sn binary systems and the Pb–Bi–Sn ternary system respectively. Interestingly, it was found out that the eutectic compositions of each alloy system (both binary and ternary) were electrocatalytically superior (Pb–Bi–Sn eutectic (Pb 29 Bi 46 Sn 25 ) > Pb–Sn eutectic (Pb 25 Sn 75 ) > Pb–Bi eutectic (Pb 44 Bi 56 )). Further, on these high performing eutectics, the hydrogen evolution is greatly suppressed.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: 1. Chemistry (general) / Alloy systems / Alloys / Applied and Technical Physics / Binary alloys / Binary systems / Bismuth / Carbon dioxide / Catalysts / Chemical reduction / Chemistry/Food Science / Earth Sciences / Electrochemical analysis / Electrochemistry / Electrodes / Engineering / Environment / Eutectic alloys / Eutectic composition / Eutectics / Fuel cells / Hydrogen evolution / Investigations / Lead / Materials Science / Mercury / Metals / Nanoparticles / Oxidation / Phase diagrams / Research Article / Sodium bicarbonate / Solid phases / Ternary systems / Tin