Determination of whether an electrolyser could be used to successfully perform electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) using Cu (II) tetraphenyl porphyrin (CuP)

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of the electrolyzer configuration on electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) using a copper-based electrocatalyst. This was investigated using a two-compartment electrolyzer and a three-compartment electrolyzer with the copper-based electrocatalyst at the cathode. Carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), and ethylene (C₂H₄) were produced as major products. Interestingly, ethylene was found to be formed preferentially. Since CH4 is a pH-dependent product and is favored under acidic conditions, it can be hypothesized that the pH at the cathode side may be closer to neutral. Such conditions allow C₂H₄ to be formed preferentially.