The use of fossil fuels throughout the modern world has resulted in an alarming increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (now >400 ppm at Mauna Lua). As a result, promising technologies which can aid in the development of carbon neutral fuel cycles or energy storage are in high demand. One promising candidate is electrochemical CO2 reduction which offers the promise of targeted conversion of CO2 to value-added or fuel-like chemicals at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. This can offer an exciting utilization avenue for captured CO2 which is widely discussed nowadays. In order for this technology to become useful at scale the development of a robust, efficient, and selective catalyst is a requirement. Understanding of the CO2 reduction pathway can provide guidance for rational catalyst design capable of maximizing the overall effectiveness of novel catalysts. In this work we study the proposed step of acetaldehyde to ethanol by utilizing 13 C labeled acetaldehyde as a feed stock and monitoring produced ethanol via NMR. A similar approach was taken to analyze propionaldehyde conversion to 1-propanol. This work also provided theoretical and experimental arguments for copper's unique ability to catalyze this reaction.

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