Light induced electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethylene using molecular catalysts anchored on polymeric organic absorbents via CH-π interactions

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Reduction of the CO2 level in the atmosphere is one of the most urgent challenges of the present time. If the current state of a fast-evolving technological society is to be maintained, innovative, sustainable energy sources and technologies have to be developed, to prevent mankind from further destroying its own basis of life. In the following project, meso-substituted porphyrin copper and iron complexes will be synthesized and immobilized on surfaces like graphene or carbon nitride via CH-π-interactions. The heterogenized molecular complexes will be applied as catalysts in the electro- and photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to valuable chemicals. Detailed investigation of the metal complexes and the immobilized materials will lead to an integral understanding of the catalytic system and allow for optimizations of the catalysts. Variation of the complex substituents and the choice of the electrode material will facilitate finetuning of the catalytic system. In the final stage of the project, a heterogenized tandem photoelectrocatalytic system of the molecular catalyst on a copper doped organic surface is aimed to enable CO2 reduction to ethylene. This approach would ideally allow for an overall CO2 neutral production of the highly important ethylene resource, which to date is commonly produced under high energy consumption and CO2 emission.