Overview

There is currently a great deal of interest in CO2 reduction as a way to capture carbon and use it to make industrial chemicals, most of which are still being made from fossil fuels. We have invented a copper nanofoam electrocatalytic electrode that reduces CO2 10–20% more effectively than smooth electropolished copper electrodes.

Market Opportunity

Copper is unique in its ability to catalyze the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to valuable fuels and chemicals. Though a variety of metallic electrodes have been investigated for the electrochemical reduction of CO2, most have a low Faradaic efficiency. Thus, there is a pressing need for more efficient methods of CO2 reduction.

Innovation and Meaningful Advantages

We have invented a copper nanofoam electrocatalytic electrode that reduces CO2 10–20% more effectively than smooth electropolished copper electrodes. Compared with smooth copper electrodes, our copper nanofoam electrode significantly reduces methane and ethylene while producing useful hydrocarbons such as ethane and propylene. The presence of ethane and propylene suggests that the copper nanofoam provides both the nanostructured surfaces and cavities that facilitate the reaction between adsorbed CO2 and hydrogen species, generating higher-order hydrocarbons during the electrochemical reduction of CO2.

Our copper nanofoam electrode, which consists of copper nanofoam, coper aerogel, and copper nanoparticles, reflects our findings that high surface roughness, hierarchal porosity, and confinement of reactive species promote CO2 reduction. In the first cell compartment is a membrane-divided electrochemical cell; a catalytic copper electrode in the second compartment contains an aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode and cathode. The introduction of CO2 into the second compartment exposes the CO2 to the catalytic copper electrode, where it is electrochemically reduced, producing and extracting propylene.

Collaboration Opportunity

We are interested in exploring 1) startup opportunities with investors; 2) collaborations with leading research companies; and 3) licensing opportunities with research companies.

Principal Investigator

G. Tayhas R. Palmore, PhD

Elaine I. Savage Professor of Engineering, Professor of Chemistry

Brown University

tayhas_palmore@brown.edu

https://vivo.brown.edu/display/trpalmor

IP Information

US Utility US10161051B2, Published December 25, 2018. 

Publications

Se S, Liu D, Tayhas R Palmore G. Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 at Copper Nanofoams. ACS Catal. 2014 Aug 8;4(9):3091–3095. doi.org/10.1021/cs500522g.

Contact

Victoria Campbell, PhD

Director of Business Development

victoria_campbell@brown.edu 

Brown Tech ID 2262