Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction using calix[n]imidazole

Utilization of excess CO2 as a chemical feedstock to produce liquid fuels and commodity chemicals is a fruitful approach towards the energy and environmental concern. The electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 is an attractive strategy to generate carbon based materials. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 may involve the use of a homogeneous catalyst in solution. There are variety of homogeneous electrocatalysts developed for the reduction of CO2, especially transition metal complexes, N-heterocyclic carbene based macrocyclic metal complexes and aromatic amines (Pyridine and Imidazole). Calix[n]imidazole (n = 4, 5, 6), a positively charged homo-calix compounds are reported as anion receptors. In this work, we have utilized the calix[n]imidazole as homogeneous electrocatalyst in aqueous media for CO2 reduction. The catalytic activity of the calix[n]imidazole in presence of CO2 is analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.