Hands-on Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂: Understanding Electrochemical Principles through Active Learning

Abstract

Electrochemistry represents a powerful sustainable method for chemical synthesis; however, its widespread application is limited due to the lack of exposure and appropriate basic training of synthetic chemists and engineers in electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering. The introduction of diverse laboratory practices to the current curricula will improve the understanding of electrochemistry and the theory behind its various applications. Here, we suggest an efficient laboratory experiment on the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO using inexpensive and readily available materials, such as metal wires, plastic vessels, batteries, and a handheld CO detector. Students learn to assemble a divided electrochemical cell and perform important electrochemical reactions, such as electrochemical CO 2 reduction and hydrogen evolution reaction.In this experiment, students analyze the rates of CO production under different electrolysis conditions and learn to understand the effects of operating parameters (applied potential, electrolyte concentration, and nature of the electrode) on the outcome of the reaction. This new comprehensive laboratory experiment is designed for students to better understand basic principles of electrochemistry and is suitable for undergraduate students.

Teaching Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation with Nickel- and Cobalt-Based Catalysts Using Cyclic Voltammetry and Python Simulation

“…Although different concepts of electrochemistry are taught in courses such as general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry, experimental techniques of electrochemistry are not often applied in laboratory courses . Since it is challenging to provide students a comprehensive understanding of electrochemistry solely with lectures, more and more laboratory experiments and simulation tools have been developed in the past few years to promote hands-on experience in electrochemistry education. ,− Water electrolysis has recently been incorporated into the teaching laboratory curriculum as an introduction module to electrochemistry . Water electrolysis also serves as a model system for comprehending its side reactions, its implementation via photoelectrochemical (PEC) process as well as the spectroelectrochemistry technique .…”

Toward a Diverse Next-Generation Energy Workforce: Teaching Artificial Photosynthesis and Electrochemistry in Elementary Schools through Active Learning

“…Lastly, electrochemistry classroom kits generally use expensive, hard-toobtain materials, such as polymeric ion-exchange membranes and precious metal electrodes, and inaccessible laboratory equipment (e.g., potentiostat or product quantification tools). 30 Many of the kits on the market cost more than $100 per unit and do not allow for hands-on student interaction during the assembly of the cell; 34−36 see Table S1 for a list of available solar electrolysis kits on the current market. This high cost is also prohibitive for poorly funded schools, which tend to have high enrollment of racial minorities, 23 and are likely too costly for use in second and third-world countries.…”

“…Past efforts involving artificial photosynthesis lesson plans have been typically conducted with college chemistry undergraduate students and are not translated across other disciplines and younger students. − These studies also lack demographic data on the students participating in these lessons, which leads to speculative conclusions on the efficacy of the lesson plan across demographics. Lastly, electrochemistry classroom kits generally use expensive, hard-to-obtain materials, such as polymeric ion-exchange membranes and precious metal electrodes, and inaccessible laboratory equipment (e.g., potentiostat or product quantification tools) . Many of the kits on the market cost more than $100 per unit and do not allow for hands-on student interaction during the assembly of the cell; − see Table S1 for a list of available solar electrolysis kits on the current market.…”

Preparing GQDs/NiAl-LDH Composites and Investigating the Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction Performance: An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment

“…The exploitation of efficient, cheap, and stable photocatalysts is still the priority of research, so early exposure to laboratories and chemical experiments can help undergraduates participate in research . Though similar teaching experiments have been published in this Journal , including electrochemical reduction of CO 2 and photooxidation of water, the emphasis of this experiment is to develop students’ practical ability and the capacity to analyze the internal mechanism.…”