A wide range of catalysts have been explored for CO2 electroreduction, including pure transition metals, metal-organic-frameworks, and macrocyclic transition-metal complexes. Significant work has been performed to elucidate the mechanism of CO2 reduction at electrode surfaces. In this SuperUROP, a baseline reaction of CO2 reduction on cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) will be used to test and fine tune an automated data collection device with a computational framework that determines the feasibility of kinetic models given a set of available data. Ultimately, we hope to develop a more complete understanding of competitive sorption at the electrode surface based on tabulated binding affinities of common anions and thorough model discrimination.

I am participating in the SuperUROP program to develop further as an engineer in the sustainability sphere. As a chemical engineer having taken a broad range of classes including 5.04 (Inorganic Chemistry II), 10.626 (Electrochemical Systems), and 14.43 (Economics of Energy, Sustainability and Innovation), I find myself well-placed and excited to carry out a structured research project focused on emissions mitigation.