Project Type
Poster
Publication Date
Spring 4-24-2026
Department or Program
Chemistry
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Faculty Mentor #1
K. Nicole Crowder
Abstract
One way to electrochemically reduce CO2 is to use modified electrode surfaces with bound transition-metal electrocatalysts. Optimal conditions for modifying copper surfaces with a 1.0 mM solution of (2-azidoethyl) phosphonic acid in acetone have been identified, forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) via the tethering by aggregation and growth (T-BAG) method. The SAM protects the copper electrodes from oxidation or side reactions on the copper surface. The copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction between the terminal azide group on the phosphonate and the terpyridine ligand has been successfully carried out on the copper surface. This terpyridyl ligand was then used to bind Cu2+, serving as a suitable conduit for the electron transfer required for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. All reactions were confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). Specular Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy was used to analyze the modified copper surfaces. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was conducted on the modified copper surfaces to determine the redox potential of the developed electrocatalyst. For future work, additional CV trials are needed to identify the optimal potential and solvent for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. After that, the created catalyst can be used in an H-cell to reduce carbon dioxide into more valuable chemicals.