Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to CO and its study in the production of acrylic acid

Abstract

The synthesis of various Rhenium complexes is followed by an investigation of their capacity to reduce CO2 photocatalytically. Re(bpy)(CO)3X (X=Cl, NCS) is irradiated in a CO2 saturated DMF:TEOA solution in a Pyrex tube capped with a serum cap. The CO produced in the reaction is tracked using a gas chromatograph, and this is followed by examining the carboxylated Re(dcbpy)(CO)3X dye derivatives in the same manner. The objective is attaching the Rhenium dye to TiO2 making it a photocathode and replacing the sacrificial reagent, TEOA, with a photoanode in a photo-electrochemical cell which would produce both electricity and carry out a catalytic reaction simultaneously. CO2 Insertion into olefin-metal bonds is also studied for the production of acrylic acid