The Reduction of Carbon Dioxide through Electrochemical Reactions at the Plasma-Liquid Interface

Rebecca O’Toole

Global Market Demand

Greenhouse gases at high levels Global community taking steps to reduce carbon emissions Transportation contributes 14% of overall carbon emissions Demonstrates need for alternative energy sources

Issue of energy storage in automobiles?

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Battery Technology

Heavily researched Major concerns: energy

density, safety, cost, charge-discharge rate lifetime

NiMH – Typically used in hybrid vehicles

Li Ion – Greater energy storage, safety and cost concerns http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/jun/10/prius-cars-solar

Charge Transfer Reactions

Reaction type occurring in batteries Movement of charged particles between

different materials Interface between different phases Typically solid-liquid Interface

http://storage4.eu/2013/03/rechargeable-battery-diagram-convention/

Plasma Technology

Ionized gas that carry charge Usually operated at sub atmospheric pressures Limited applicability in charge transfer process

Mircoplasma operated at atmospheric pressure broaden research opportunities in charge transfer reactions

Plasma-liquid interface could replace solid-liquid interface Cost effective

Previous Research

Successful reduction of Ferricyanide to Ferrocyanide and hydrolysis of water at plasma-liquid interface

Conducted in chemical engineering department at Case Western Reserve University

Nature of reactions is still unclear More research is necessary for better understanding

Proposed Research

Reduction of carbon dioxide at plasma-liquid interface

Experimental set up based off previous research

Argon microplasma operated at atmospheric pressure

Expand understanding of charge transfer reactions

Increase development in battery technology

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja207547b

Questions?