An electrochemical reaction device includes: an electrolytic solution tank including a first storage part storing a first electrolytic solution and a second storage part storing a second electrolytic solution; a reduction electrode immersed in the first electrolytic solution; and an oxidation electrode immersed in the second electrolytic solution. The second electrolytic solution contains a substance to be oxidized. The first electrolytic solution has a first liquid phase containing water and a second liquid phase containing an organic solvent and being in contact with the first liquid phase. At least one liquid phase of the first liquid phase or the second liquid phase contains a substance to be reduced and is in contact with the reduction electrode.

An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and a Helper Polymer in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said carbon dioxide reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO.sup.−, H.sub.2CO, (HCO.sub.2).sup.−, H.sub.2CO.sub.2, CH.sub.3OH, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.4, CH.sub.3CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.3COO.sup.−, CH.sub.3COOH, C.sub.2H.sub.6, (COOH).sub.2, (COO.sup.−).sub.2, and CF.sub.3COOH.

According to one embodiment, a photochemical reaction system comprises a CO.sub.2 production unit, a CO.sub.2 absorption unit, and a CO.sub.2 reduction unit. The CO.sub.2 reduction unit comprises a laminated body and an ion transfer pathway. The laminated body comprises an oxidation catalyst layer producing O.sub.2 and H.sup.+ by oxidizing H.sub.2O, a reduction catalyst layer producing carbon compounds by reducing CO.sub.2 absorbed by the CO.sub.2 absorption unit, and a semiconductor layer formed between the oxidation catalyst layer and the reduction catalyst layer and develops charge separation with light energy. The ion transfer pathways make ions move between the oxidation catalyst layer side and the reduction catalyst layer side.

This invention relates to a method of selection of an electrocatalyst array for a desired product outcome. The method comprises exposing an electrocatalyst system to an active agent dissolved or suspended in a conductive solution; and applying a voltage to the electrocatalyst system. The voltage sufficient to cause a multi-electron oxidation or multi-electron reduction of the active species; the electrocatalyst system comprises a counter electrode; and an electrocatalyst array. The array comprising a support substrate; uniformly sized surface structures protruding from a surface of the support substrate; the uniformly sized surface structures have edges and/or apices comprising a catalyst. When the uniformly sized surface structures are of a micrometer scale a first product ratio is produced, when the uniformly sized surface structures are of a nanometer scale a second product ratio is produced, wherein the first and second product ratios are different; the second product ratio requires a higher order electron process compared to producing the first product ratio.

Provided are a basic electrocatalyst applied to a carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production system, a basic electrocatalyst electrode and an apparatus each including the same, and a method of manufacturing the basic electrocatalyst electrode. The basic electrocatalyst electrode for for carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production includes: catalyst particles each including copper hydroxide (Cu(OH).sub.2); and a basic compound. Since the basic electrocatalyst electrode has high carbon dioxide reduction performance and high ethylene selectivity, the basic electrocatalyst electrode may be applied to a reduction electrode of a carbon dioxide reduction and ethylene production apparatus and may exhibit high current density and high ethylene selectivity. The basic electrocatalyst electrode may be manufactured by a simple method, and may be applied to a large-area electrode.

Disclosed are methods for electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide to provide a product. The methods can comprise contacting the carbon dioxide with an electroreduction catalyst in an electrochemical cell, and applying a potential to the eletrochemical ceil to form the product. The electroreduction catalyst can comprise a nanoporous Cu catalyst, a nanoporous Cu-M catalyst, or a combination thereof, where M is a metal chosen from Pt, Ir, Pd, Ag, Au, Rh, Ru, Zn, Sn, Ni, Fe, Re, Ga, In, Cd, Tl, and Ti. The product can comprise a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 alkane, a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 alkene, a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 alcohol, a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 carboxylic acid, a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 aldehyde, or a combination thereof.

An electrochemical conversion method for converting at least a portion of a first mixture comprising hydrocarbon to C.sub.2+ unsaturates by repeatedly applying an electric potential difference, V(.sub.1), to a first electrode of an electrochemical cell during a first time interval .sub.1; and reducing the electric potential difference, V(.sub.1), to a second electric potential difference, V(.sub.2), for a second time interval .sub.2, wherein .sub.2.sub.1. The method is beneficial, among other things, for reducing coke formation in the electrochemical production of C.sub.2+ unsaturates in an electrochemical cell. Accordingly, a method of reducing coke formation in the electrochemical conversion of such mixtures and a method for electrochemically converting carbon to C.sub.2+ unsaturates as well as an apparatus for such methods are also provided.

An electrode including Cu.sub.4O.sub.3, in particular an ethylene-selective electrode with a mixed valence Cu.sub.4O.sub.3 catalyst. A method for producing an electrode of this type, an electrolytic cell having an electrode of this type, and a method for electrochemically converting carbon dioxide using such an electrode including Cu.sub.4O.sub.3.

A method for the electrochemical reaction of an organic material, and a device in which a corresponding method is carried out including a porous electrode for the electrochemical reaction of organic compounds in two immiscible phases in an electrochemical flow reactor. A first nonpolar solvent and a first polar electrolyte or a first organic material in the form of a liquid or gas and the first polar electrolyte form a first phase boundary with one another in such a form that the first phase boundary in the electrochemical conversion is at least partly within a first electrode, preferably at an interface between a first lipophilic layer and a second hydrophilic layer.

A copper nanocatalyst, a method for preparing the copper nanocatalyst, and an application of the copper nanocatalyst in the synthesis of acetate or ammonia are provided. The copper nanocatalyst includes a substrate and an active agent loaded on the substrate. The method includes: preparing a cleaning agent by using an ethanol and a deionized; immersing the active agent in the cleaning agent, ultrasonically cleaning for 5-10 min at a frequency of 410.sup.4 Hz-810.sup.4 Hz, and drying for later use; mixing the cleaned active agent and a conductive binder according to a mass ratio of 1:19-9:1 of the active agent to the conductive binder, adding the ethanol, and fully stirring and dispersing to obtain a slurry; coating the slurry on a surface of the carbon paper, and drying the carbon paper by blowing through nitrogen flow to obtain the catalyst.