Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to methanol with 35% Faradaic efficiency on organically doped palladium cathode in aqueous solution.
A [PYD]@Pd composite was prepared by the entrapment of a pyridine derivative within metallic palladium. Metallic Pd acts as a heterogeneous support and a pyridine ring served as an active site for electroreduction of CO 2, and no additional catalyst was needed in the electrolyte. 35% Faradaic efficiency of methanol was obtained at only −0.6 V vs. SCE. Moreover, [PYD]@Pd has remarkable stability and reusability.