ELECTROCATALYTIC REDUCTION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE TO METHANOL .6. USE OF A SOLAR-CELL AND COMPARISON WITH THAT OF CARBON-MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide have been catalytically reduced by the surface-confined Everitt's salt and leucoindigo. The conversions are the redox reactions consisting of the reduction of CO or CO//2 to methanol and the oxidation of Everitt's salt to Prussian blue or leucoindigo to indigo. These reactions need to be activated via the homogeneous catalysis involving a metal complex and a primary alcohol. Everitt's salt and leucoindigo were regenerated by using sunlight as the only energy source. The maximum current efficiencies were 96. 5% for CO and 64. 8% for CO//2 at the cell voltage of 2. 0 V.