Terpyridine complexes of first row transition metals and electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO

Abstract

Homoleptic terpyridine complexes of first row transition metals are evaluated as catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂. Ni and Co-based catalytic systems are shown to reduce CO₂ to CO under the conditions tested. The Ni complex was found to exhibit selectivity for CO₂ over proton reduction while the Co-based system generates mixtures of CO and H₂ with CO : H₂ ratios being tuneable through variation of the applied potential.