Method for producing alcohol

• US 9,157,158 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Deguchi, Masahiro, Hashiba, Hiroshi, Yotsuhashi, Satoshi, Yamada, Yuka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raphael, Colleen M
• Application Number:
  US14/450,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20140367271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 204/157.9, 205/340
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/33 Electric or magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/15 by reduction of oxides of carbon exclusively
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/08 Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/10 containing three carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/55 Photoelectrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/091 consisting of at least one catalytic element and at least one catalytic compound; consisting of two or more catalytic elements or catalytic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/25 Reduction
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/40 Cells or assemblies of cells comprising electrodes made of particles; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for producing an alcohol using a device for reducing carbon dioxide by light energy. In this device, a cathode electrode includes copper or a copper compound, and an anode electrode includes a region including a nitride semiconductor layer in which an Al_xGa_1-xN layer (0<x≦1) and a GaN layer are laminated. A first electrolytic solution consisting of an aqueous potassium chloride solution (aqueous KCl solution) is contained in a cathode chamber in which the cathode electrode is placed. A second electrolytic solution including an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (aqueous NaOH solution) is contained in an anode chamber in which the anode electrode is placed.

Claims

1. A method for producing an alcohol using a device for reducing carbon dioxide by light energy, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing the device for reducing carbon dioxide, the device including a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, and a proton conducting membrane, wherein

the cathode chamber contains a cathode electrode,

the cathode electrode includes copper or a copper compound,

the anode chamber contains an anode electrode,

the anode electrode includes a region including a nitride semiconductor layer in which an Al_xGa_1-xN layer (0<

x≦

1) and a GaN layer are laminated,

a first electrolytic solution consisting of an aqueous potassium chloride solution (aqueous KCl solution) is contained in the cathode chamber,

a second electrolytic solution including an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (aqueous NaOH solution) is contained in the anode chamber,

the cathode electrode is in contact with the first electrolytic solution,

the anode electrode is in contact with the second electrolytic solution,

the proton conducting membrane is interposed between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber,

the first electrolytic solution contains carbon dioxide,

the cathode electrode is electrically connected to the anode electrode, and

a power source that is electrically connected to the cathode electrode and the anode electrode is not provided between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode; and

(b) irradiating the anode electrode with light having a wavelength of 360 nm or less so as to reduce, at the cathode electrode, the carbon dioxide contained in the first electrolytic solution and to produce the alcohol.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a composition ratio of aluminum (a value of x) in the Al_xGa_1-xN layer (0<

x≦

1) of the anode electrode is in a range of 0<

x<

0.25.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the GaN layer of the anode electrode is n-type or n⁺-type.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an entire surface or a part of the surface of the Al_xGa_1-xN layer (0<

x≦

1) of the anode electrode is coated with at least nickel oxide.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the nickel oxide is in the form of fine particles.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), the device for educing carbon dioxide is placed at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), aldehyde is also obtained.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), formic acid is also obtained.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), carbon monoxide is also obtained.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), hydrocarbon is also obtained.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), hydrogen is also obtained.