Electrochemical synthesis of formate from CO2 using a Sn/reduced graphene oxide catalyst

The synthesis of formate, an energy carrier, from CO2 using electricity derived from renewable sources is attracting much attention as a technology for recycling and reusing CO2. Here, we focus on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a dispersed Sn support that efficiently adsorbs CO2. Highly efficient synthesis of formate is observed at the interface between rGO and Sn in the electrochemical reduction of CO2. We propose a reaction mechanism for this electrochemical reduction.