Catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

• US 9,333,487 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Abdul AZIZ City For Science and Technology, King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Original Assignee: King Abdul AZIZ City For Science and Technology, King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Bashir, Shahid Muhammad, Rahman, Saleem Ur, Ahmed, Shakeel, Hossain, Mohammad Mozahar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailey, Patricia L
• Application Number:
  US14/539,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 502/101, 502/185, 502/337, 977/742, 977/748, 977/752, 204/292, 204/294, 205/555
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/14 of germanium, tin or lead
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/755 Nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0201 Impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0213 Preparation of the impregnating solution
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/08 Heat treatment B01J37/0009, B01J37/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/341 making use of electric or magnetic fields, wave energy or particle radiation use of flames, plasma or lasers B01J37/349
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/077 the compound being a non-noble metal oxide

Abstract

The catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is a metal oxide supported by multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The metal oxide may be nickel oxide (NiO) or tin dioxide (SnO₂). The metal oxides form 20 wt % of the catalyst. In order to make the catalysts, a metal oxide precursor is first dissolved in deionized water to form a metal oxide precursor solution. The metal oxide precursor solution is then sonicated and the solution is impregnated in a support material composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to form a slurry. The slurry is then sonicated to form a homogeneous solid solution. Solids are removed from the homogeneous solid solution and dried in an oven for about 24 hours at a temperature of about 110° C. Drying is then followed by calcination in a tubular furnace under an argon atmosphere for about three hours at a temperature of 450° C.

Claims

1. A method of making a catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, comprising the steps of:

dissolving tin chloride (SnCl₂) in deionized water to form a tin precursor solution;

sonicating the tin precursor solution;

impregnating the sonicated tin precursor solution in a support material comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes to form a slurry;

sonicating the slurry to form a homogenous solid solution;

removing solids from the homogenous solid solution;

drying the solids; and

calcining the dried solids in an argon atmosphere to form the catalytic composition.

2. The method of making a catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of adding hydrochloric acid (HCl) to the sonicated tin precursor solution.

3. The method of making a catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of sonicating the slurry comprises sonicating the slurry for about two hours.

4. The method of making a catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of drying the solids comprises drying the solids at a temperature of about 110 °

C. for a period of about 24 hours.

5. The method of making a catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of calcining the dried solids comprises calcining the dried solids for about three hours at a temperature of about 450 °

C.