A CO.sub.2 reduction system has a cathode in contact with a catholyte. The cathode includes a selectivity-determining layer on an electron conductor. The selectivity-determining layer includes a selectivity-determining component that includes a substituted heterocycle.

Disclosed are cathodes comprising a conductive support substrate having an electrocatalyst coating containing nickel hosphide nanoparticles and a co-catalyst. The conductive support substrate is capable of incorporating a material to be reduced, such as CO.sub.2 or CO. A cocatalyst, either incorporated into the electrolyte solution, or into the conductive support, or adsorbed to, deposited on, or incorporated into the bulk cathode material, alters the electrocatalyst properties by increasing the carbon product selectivity through interactions with the reaction intermediates. Also disclosed are electrochemical methods for selectively generating hydrocarbon and/or carbohydrate products from CO.sub.2 or CO using water as a source of hydrogen

Disclosed are cathodes comprising a conductive support substrate having an electrocatalyst coating containing nickel hosphide nanoparticles and a co-catalyst. The conductive support substrate is capable of incorporating a material to be reduced, such as CO.sub.2 or CO. A cocatalyst, either incorporated into the electrolyte solution, or into the conductive support, or adsorbed to, deposited on, or incorporated into the bulk cathode material, alters the electrocatalyst properties by increasing the carbon product selectivity through interactions with the reaction intermediates. Also disclosed are electrochemical methods for selectively generating hydrocarbon and/or carbohydrate products from CO.sub.2 or CO using water as a source of hydrogen

A platform technology that uses a novel membrane electrode assembly, including a cathode layer, an anode layer, a membrane layer arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer, the membrane conductively connecting the cathode layer and the anode layer, in a CO.sub.x reduction reactor has been developed. The reactor can be used to synthesize a broad range of carbon-based compounds from carbon dioxide and other gases containing carbon.

A platform technology that uses a novel membrane electrode assembly, including a cathode layer, an anode layer, a membrane layer arranged between the cathode layer and the anode layer, the membrane conductively connecting the cathode layer and the anode layer, in a CO.sub.x reduction reactor has been developed. The reactor can be used to synthesize a broad range of carbon-based compounds from carbon dioxide and other gases containing carbon.

The present invention relates to the production of graphene from CO.sub.2 through electrolysis and exfoliation processes. One embodiment is a method for producing graphene comprising (i) performing electrolysis between an electrolysis anode and an electrolysis cathode in a molten carbonate electrolyte to generate carbon nanomaterial on the cathode, and (ii) electrochemically exfoliating the carbon nanomaterial from a second anode to produce graphene. The exfoliating step produces graphene in high yield than thicker, conventional graphite exfoliation reactions. CO.sub.2 can be the sole reactant used to produce the valuable product as graphene. This can incentivize utilization of CO.sub.2, and unlike alternative products made from CO.sub.2 such as carbon monoxide or other fuels such as methane, use of the graphene product does not release this greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere.

The present invention relates to the production of graphene from CO.sub.2 through electrolysis and exfoliation processes. One embodiment is a method for producing graphene comprising (i) performing electrolysis between an electrolysis anode and an electrolysis cathode in a molten carbonate electrolyte to generate carbon nanomaterial on the cathode, and (ii) electrochemically exfoliating the carbon nanomaterial from a second anode to produce graphene. The exfoliating step produces graphene in high yield than thicker, conventional graphite exfoliation reactions. CO.sub.2 can be the sole reactant used to produce the valuable product as graphene. This can incentivize utilization of CO.sub.2, and unlike alternative products made from CO.sub.2 such as carbon monoxide or other fuels such as methane, use of the graphene product does not release this greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere.

A method for making an electrocatalyst containing manganese oxide nanoparticles present on carbon obtained from Albizia procera (MnO.sub.xNPs-C) for electrochemical water oxidation. The method includes a thermal decomposition and forms a product with specific morphological variations, including crystalline structure, elemental composition, and chemical compatibility. The manganese oxide nanoparticles are well dispersed over the carbon. The amount of manganese oxide nanoparticles increases by increasing the amount of precursor. Single-phase formation of the Mn.sub.3O.sub.4, and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 along with MnO phase occurs at low and high amount of the precursor materials, respectively. The electrocatalyst can be used for the purpose electrolytic water splitting.

A method for making an electrocatalyst containing manganese oxide nanoparticles present on carbon obtained from Albizia procera (MnO.sub.xNPs-C) for electrochemical water oxidation. The method includes a thermal decomposition and forms a product with specific morphological variations, including crystalline structure, elemental composition, and chemical compatibility. The manganese oxide nanoparticles are well dispersed over the carbon. The amount of manganese oxide nanoparticles increases by increasing the amount of precursor. Single-phase formation of the Mn.sub.3O.sub.4, and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 along with MnO phase occurs at low and high amount of the precursor materials, respectively. The electrocatalyst can be used for the purpose electrolytic water splitting.

In various embodiments, the invention teaches a method for water splitting with much higher efficiency than previous methods. By decreasing the distance between two electrodes to nanometer scale, even shorter than the electric field screening length, the external power required for water splitting is significantly reduced.