Date of Award

Spring 4-28-2026

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Chemistry and Physics

Department Chair or Program Director

Crowder, Nicole

First Advisor

Crowder, Nicole

Major or Concentration

Chemistry (ACS Certified)

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 (2-azidoethyl) phosphonic acid in acetone have been identified for forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) via the tethering by aggregation and growth (T-BAG) method. The subsequently formed phosphonate film on the copper surfaces protects the modified electrodes from oxidation or side reactions on the copper. A copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction between the terminal azide group on the phosphonate and a synthesized terpyridine ligand with the necessary terminal alkyne substituent has been successfully carried out on the copper surface. This terpyridyl ligand was then used to bind a Cu (II)-based complex, serving as a suitable conduit for the electron transfer required for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. All surface modification reactions were first conducted in solution, and products 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 electrocatalytic system. Additional CV analysis is needed to identify the optimal potential and solvent for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. In future work, the synthesized catalyst system can be used in an electrochemical H-shaped cell to potentially reduce carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals such as those containing a C-C bond.

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS