摘要: Various investigators have shown that the electrode reduction of CO2 in water using metal electrodes yields acid as the main product. Recent publications have generated conflicting claims regarding the further reduction of formic ... 展开 Various investigators have shown that the electrode reduction of CO2 in water using metal electrodes yields acid as the main product. Recent publications have generated conflicting claims regarding the further reduction of formic acid to methanol. Our studies using platinum electrodes at a fixed pH in mildly acidic NaC104 solutions show an increase in the cathodic current when NaCOOH is added. Closer examinations show that the HCOOH/HCOO equilibrium is involved and that H3O(+) rather than HCOOH is reduced. The results of these investigations can be represented by a reaction sequence where the net result is the reduction of protons present as either undissociated HCOOH or HcO(+) to form hydrogen gas. The positively charged protons complexed with one or more water molecules are electrochemically reduced at a more positive potential than neutral water molecules. 收起