U.S. patent application number 14/566742 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-09 for methanol generation device, method for generating methanol, and electrode for generating methanol.
The applicant listed for this patent is Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to MASAHIRO DEGUCHI, HIROSHI HASHIBA, YUKA YAMADA, SATOSHI YOTSUHASHI.
Application Number | 20150096898 14/566742 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52141398 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150096898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HASHIBA; HIROSHI ; et
al. |
April 9, 2015 |
METHANOL GENERATION DEVICE, METHOD FOR GENERATING METHANOL, AND
ELECTRODE FOR GENERATING METHANOL
Abstract
The present invention provides a methanol generation device for
generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a
container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon
dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be
in contact with the electrolyte solution; an anode electrode
disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the
electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a
voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative
with respect to a potential of the anode electrode. The cathode
electrode includes a region of Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (0<x<1).
The anode electrode includes a region of a metal or a metal
compound.
Inventors: |
HASHIBA; HIROSHI; (Osaka,
JP) ; DEGUCHI; MASAHIRO; (Osaka, JP) ;
YOTSUHASHI; SATOSHI; (Osaka, JP) ; YAMADA; YUKA;
(Nara, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52141398 |
Appl. No.: |
14/566742 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2014/003077 |
Jun 10, 2014 |
|
|
|
14566742 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
205/450 ;
204/242; 204/252; 252/182.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25B 9/08 20130101; C25B
11/0494 20130101; C25B 15/02 20130101; C25B 11/0473 20130101; C25B
11/0405 20130101; C25B 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
205/450 ;
204/242; 204/252; 252/182.1 |
International
Class: |
C25B 3/04 20060101
C25B003/04; C25B 11/04 20060101 C25B011/04; C25B 9/08 20060101
C25B009/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 28, 2013 |
JP |
2013-135820 |
Claims
1. A methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing
carbon dioxide, comprising: a container for storing an electrolyte
solution containing carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in
the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution;
an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact
with the electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for
applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is
negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode,
wherein the cathode electrode includes a region of
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (0<x<1); and the anode electrode includes
a region of a metal or a metal compound.
2. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x is a solid solution or intermetallic compound of
Cu and Au.
3. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the
value of x is not less than 0.005 and not more than 0.05.
4. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the
anode electrode is formed of carbon, platinum, gold, silver,
copper, titanium, iridium oxide, or an alloy thereof.
5. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the
electrolyte solution is a potassium chloride aqueous solution or a
sodium chloride aqueous solution.
6. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, wherein an
absolute value of the voltage is not less than 2.5 volts.
7. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a reference electrode disposed in the container so as
to be in contact with the electrolyte solution, wherein the
reference electrode has a region of Ag/AgCl; and the voltage to be
applied by the external power supply to the cathode electrode with
respect to a potential of the reference electrode is not more than
-1.7 volt.
8. The methanol generation device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a solid electrolyte membrane for dividing the container
into a cathode container for storing a first electrolyte solution
containing carbon dioxide and an anode container for storing a
second electrolyte solution.
9. The methanol generation device according to claim 8, wherein the
first electrolyte solution is a potassium chloride aqueous solution
or a sodium chloride aqueous solution, and the second electrolyte
solution is a potassium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, a
sodium hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, or a potassium sulfate
aqueous solution.
10. A method for generating methanol using a methanol generation
device, the method comprising: (a) preparing the methanol
generation device comprising: a container; a cathode electrode; and
an anode electrode, wherein the cathode electrode has a region of
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (0<x<1); the anode electrode has a region
of a metal or a metal compound; an electrolyte solution is stored
in the container; the cathode electrode is in contact with the
electrolyte solution; the anode electrode is in contact with the
electrolyte solution; and the electrolyte solution contains carbon
dioxide; and (b) reducing the carbon dioxide contained in the
electrolyte solution by applying a voltage so that a potential of
the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of
the anode electrode to generate methanol on the cathode
electrode.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the methanol
generation device is placed under room temperature and atmospheric
pressure in step (b).
12. An electrode for generating methanol used for a methanol
generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon
dioxide, comprising: a region of Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (0<x<1).
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of International Application No.
PCT/JP2014/003030, with an international filing date of Jun. 6,
2014, which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.
2013-135824, filed on Jun. 28, 2013, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a methanol generation
device, a method for generating methanol, and an electrode for
generating methanol.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Japanese Patent Application laid-open Publication No.
2000-254508A, Japanese Patent Application laid-open Publication No.
Hei 1-313313A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,768, Japanese Patent Application
laid-open Publication No. 2004-176129A, and Y. Hori, "Modern
Aspects of Electrochemistry", 2008, vol. 42, p.p. 89-189 disclose a
method for reducing carbon dioxide.
[0006] Japanese Patent Application laid-open Publication No.
2000-254508A and Japanese Patent Application laid-open Publication
No. Hei 1-313313A disclose a method for reducing carbon dioxide
using a gas phase reaction performed under high temperature.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,768 discloses a method for reducing
carbon dioxide electrochemically using a phthalocyanine metal
complex.
[0008] Japanese Patent Application laid-open Publication No.
2004-176129A, and Y. Hori, "Electrochemical CO.sub.2 Reduction on
Metal Electrodes", Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry, 2008, vol.
42, p.p. 89-189 disclose a method for reducing carbon dioxide
electrochemically using metal copper or copper halide.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention provides a methanol generation device
for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising:
[0010] a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing
carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as
to be in contact with the electrolyte solution;
[0011] an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in
contact with the electrolyte solution; and
[0012] an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a
potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a
potential of the anode electrode,
[0013] wherein
[0014] the cathode electrode includes a region of
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (0<x<1); and
[0015] the anode electrode includes a region of a metal or a metal
compound.
[0016] The present invention provides a methanol generation device
having high methanol generation efficiency.
[0017] Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics
and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of
the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1A shows a schematic view of a methanol generation
device according to the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 1B shows a schematic view of a methanol generation
device according to the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 1C shows a schematic view of a methanol generation
device according to the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a graph showing results of the inventive example 1
and the comparative examples 1-2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The embodiments of the methanol generation device and method
for generating methanol according to the present disclosure will be
described with reference to the drawings.
Methanol Generation Device
[0023] FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C each show a schematic view of a methanol
generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon
dioxide.
[0024] A methanol generation device 10 comprises a container 11, a
cathode electrode 12, an anode electrode 13, and an external power
supply 14. As shown in FIG. 1A, the methanol generation device 10
may have a voltage measurement device 15 and a current measurement
device 16, each of which is used to monitor how carbon dioxide is
reduced.
[0025] An electrolyte solution 17 is stored in the container 11. As
one example, the electrolyte solution 17 is a potassium chloride
aqueous solution, a sodium chloride aqueous solution, a sodium
hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, or a sodium sulfate aqueous
solution. In particular, a potassium chloride aqueous solution or a
sodium chloride aqueous solution is desirable. It is desirable that
the electrolyte solution 17 has a concentration of not less than
0.05 mol/L and not more than 5.0 mol/L.
[0026] The cathode electrode 12 has CuAu which is a copper-gold
alloy. Hereinafter, copper is referred to as "Cu" and gold is
referred to as "Au". CuAu has a composition formula of
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x (where 0<x<1).
[0027] It is desirable that CuAu is in a state of a solid solution
or an intermetallic compound. The solid solution means an alloy in
which the elements constituting the alloy are randomly mixed at the
atomic level. The intermetallic compound means a compound in which
the elements constituting the compound are arranged regularly at
the atomic level.
[0028] An example of a method for fabricating CuAu in the state of
the solid solution is a vacuum melting method or an arc melting
method. The value of x in the composition formula
Cu.sub.1-xAu.sub.x represents the composition ratio of Au to Cu,
both of which constitute CuAu. It is desirable that the value of x
is not less than 0.001 and not more than 0.10. In particular, it is
more desirable that the value of x is not less than 0.005 and not
more than 0.05.
[0029] CuAu which constitutes the cathode electrode 12 may contain
elements other than Cu and Au, as long as the crystalline structure
of CuAu is free from disturbance. CuAu fabricated by a vacuum
melting method or an arc melting method may contain impurities at a
normally acceptable level. The crystalline structure can be
observed, for example, by conducting an X-ray diffraction
measurement.
[0030] The cathode electrode 12 may be composed only of CuAu;
however, the cathode electrode 12 may have a stacked structure
having a CuAu layer and a substrate for supporting the CuAu layer.
For example, the cathode electrode 12 is a stacked structure
obtained by forming a CuAu thin film on the substrate formed of
glass or glassy carbon. Instead, the cathode electrode 12 may be
formed by arranging a lot of CuAu fine particles on a conductive
substrate. The cathode electrode 12 is not limited, as long as the
cathode electrode 12 is capable of reducing carbon dioxide and
generating methanol.
[0031] The cathode electrode 12 is in contact with the electrolyte
solution 17. More accurately, CuAu contained in the cathode
electrode 12 is in contact with the electrolyte solution 17. As
long as CuAu is in contact with the electrolyte solution 17, only a
part of the cathode electrode 12 has to be immersed in the
electrolyte solution 17.
[0032] The anode electrode 13 has a conductive material. An example
of the conductive material is carbon, platinum, gold, silver,
copper, titanium, iridium oxide, or an alloy thereof. The
conductive material is not limited, as long as the conductive
material is not decomposed through the oxidation reaction of the
conductive material itself.
[0033] The oxidation reaction of water performed in the anode
electrode 13 is independent of the reduction reaction of carbon
dioxide performed in the cathode electrode 12. The material of the
anode electrode 13 does not have an influence on the reaction
performed on the cathode electrode 12.
[0034] The anode electrode 13 is also in contact with the
electrolyte solution 17. More accurately, the conductive material
included in the anode electrode 13 is in contact with the
electrolyte solution 17. As long as the conductive material is in
contact with the electrolyte solution 17, only a part of the anode
electrode 13 has to be immersed in the electrolyte solution 17.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1A, the methanol generation device 10 may
have a tube 18 in the container 11. Carbon dioxide may be supplied
through the tube 18 to the electrolyte solution 17. One end of the
tube 18 is immersed in the electrolyte solution 17.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1B, a methanol generation device 100 may
comprise a solid electrolyte membrane 19 in the container 11. The
solid electrolyte membrane 19 divides the electrolyte solution 17
into an anode-side electrolyte solution 17L and a cathode-side
electrolyte solution 17R. In other words, the solid electrolyte
membrane 19 divides the inside of the container 11 into an anode
container for storing the anode-side electrolyte solution 17L and a
cathode container for storing the cathode-side electrolyte solution
17R.
[0037] The solid electrolyte membrane 19 prevents the anode-side
electrolyte solution 17L and the cathode-side electrolyte solution
17R from being mixed with each other. Since the solid electrolyte
membrane 19 allows passage of protons therethrough, the solid
electrolyte membrane 19 connects the cathode-side electrolyte
solution 17R with the anode-side electrolyte solution 17L
electrically. An example of the solid electrolyte membrane 19 is a
Nafion membrane available from Du Pont. The reason why the
electrolyte solution 17 is divided using the solid electrolyte
membrane 19 will be described later.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1C, a methanol generation device 200 may
comprise a reference electrode 20 near the cathode electrode 12.
The reference electrode 20 is in contact with the cathode-side
electrolyte solution 17R. The reference electrode 20 is used for
measuring the electric potential of the cathode electrode 12 and is
connected to the cathode electrode 12 through the voltage
measurement device 15. An example of the reference electrode 20 is
a silver/silver chloride electrode (hereinafter, referred to as
"Ag/AgCl electrode").
Method for Generating Methanol
[0039] A method for generating methanol using the above-mentioned
methanol generation device will be described below.
[0040] The methanol generation device may be placed under room
temperature and atmospheric pressure.
[0041] A voltage is applied to the cathode electrode 12 using the
external power supply 14 so that the voltage is negative with
respect to the potential of the anode electrode 13. A voltage
exceeding a threshold for establishing the methanol generation
reaction has to be applied using the external power supply 14. The
threshold varies depending on the interval between the cathode
electrode 12 and the anode electrode 13, the materials constituting
the cathode electrode 12 and the anode electrode 13, and the
concentration of the electrolyte solution 17. It is desirable that
the threshold is not less than 2.5 volts.
[0042] A part of the electric energy applied to the cathode
electrode 12 with respect to the anode electrode 13 is consumed for
the oxidization reaction of water which occurs on the anode
electrode 13. For this reason, in the case of using the methanol
generation device shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B, it is difficult to
know the actual voltage applied to the cathode electrode 12. On the
other hand, in the case of using the methanol generation device
shown in FIG. 1C, the actual voltage applied to the cathode
electrode 12 can be determined accurately. The potential of the
cathode electrode 12 with respect to the potential of the reference
electrode 20 may vary depending on the materials of the reference
electrode 20. It is desirable that the potential of the cathode
electrode 12 with respect to the potential of the reference
electrode 20 is not more than -1.7 volts.
[0043] As just described, by applying an appropriate voltage to the
cathode electrode 12, the carbon dioxide contained in the
electrolyte solution 17 is reduced on the cathode electrode 12. As
a result, methanol is generated on the surface of the cathode
electrode 12.
[0044] On the other hand, oxygen is generated on the anode
electrode 13 through the oxidization reaction of water. In a case
where the electrolyte solution 17 contains methanol, not only water
but also methanol is oxidized. In other words, a part of the
methanol generated on the cathode electrode 12 may reach the anode
electrode 13, and oxidized on the anode electrode 13. As a result,
the generated methanol is returned to carbon dioxide. In order to
prevent such a reverse reaction, as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C,
the cathode-side electrolyte solution 17R and the anode-side
electrolyte solution 17L are preferably separated from each other
using the solid electrolyte membrane 19.
[0045] A reaction current flows through the cathode electrode 12,
since carbon dioxide is reduced on the cathode electrode 12 and
water is oxidized on the anode electrode 13 by using the methanol
generation device. As shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1C, the amount of the
reaction current can be monitored using the current measurement
device 16.
EXAMPLES
[0046] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with
reference to the following examples.
Inventive Example 1
Fabrication of the Cathode Electrode
[0047] A cathode electrode formed of CuAu according to the
inventive example 1 was fabricated below.
[0048] First, Au was dissolved in Cu by a vacuum melting method so
that x was equal to 0.00167. Subsequently, the dissolved material
was solidified. In this way, CuAu was obtained. The obtained CuAu
was shaped into a plate having a length of 20 millimeters, a width
of 20 millimeters, and a thickness of 2 millimeters. The surface of
the plate was washed using an organic solvent.
[0049] The composition of the CuAu plate was confirmed using an
X-ray diffractometer. As a result, no peak of Au in the state of
the elementary substance was observed. The formation of CuAu in
which Au was dissolved in Cu was observed.
[0050] And then, the obtained CuAu plate was adhered to a glass
substrate. In this way, the cathode electrode according to the
inventive example 1 was fabricated.
Assembling of the Device
[0051] The methanol generation device shown in FIG. 1C was
fabricated using the above-mentioned cathode electrode. The
elements of the methanol generation device are described below.
[0052] Cathode electrode: CuAu (Composition formula:
Cu.sub.0.9833Au.sub.0.0167)
[0053] Anode electrode: Platinum
[0054] Electrode interval: approximately 8 centimeters
[0055] Reference electrode: Ag/AgCl
[0056] Anode-side electrolyte solution: potassium hydrogen
carbonate aqueous solution having a concentration of 0.5 mol/L
[0057] Cathode-side electrolyte solution: potassium chloride
aqueous solution having a concentration of 0.5 mol/L
[0058] Solid electrolyte membrane: Nafion membrane (available from
Du Pont, Trade name: Nafion 117)
[0059] Carbon dioxide was supplied through a tube to the
cathode-side electrolyte solution by bubbling the cathode-side
electrolyte solution using a carbon dioxide gas for thirty minutes
(carbon dioxide flow rate: 200 milliliters/minute).
Reduction of Carbon Dioxide
[0060] After carbon dioxide was dissolved in the cathode-side
electrolyte solution, the container was sealed. Subsequently, a
voltage was applied using a potentiostat so that the potential of
the cathode electrode was negative with respect to the potential of
the anode electrode. The value of the applied voltage was
controlled using the potentiostat so that the potential of the
cathode electrode with respect to the potential of the reference
electrode was -1.9 volts.
[0061] After the voltage was applied for a certain period, the
material and amount of the reaction products generated in the
container were determined using gas chromatography and liquid
chromatography. As a result, carbon monoxide (CO), formic acid
(HCOOH), methane (CH.sub.4), ethylene (C.sub.2H.sub.4), aldehydes,
and ethanol were detected as reduction products of carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a peak was observed at the
detecting position indicating the generation of methanol (i.e. the
position indicated by the arrow depicted in the drawing) in the
product analysis of the head-space gas chromatography. In other
words, it was confirmed that methanol was generated using the
cathode electrode formed of CuAu.
[0062] In the inventive example 1, the production amount of
methanol per 1000 seconds of the electrolysis period was
3.1.times.10.sup.-7 mol/cm.sup.2. Note that the electrolysis period
is equal to the period for which the voltage was applied to the
cathode electrode using the external power supply.
[0063] The faraday efficiency of the methanol generation in the
inventive example 1 was calculated. As a result, the calculated
faraday efficiency was 1.42%. Note that the faraday efficiency
means a ratio of the charge amount used for the generation of the
reaction product to the charge amount used for all the reactions.
The faraday efficiency is calculated in accordance with the
following formula:
(Faraday efficiency of the methanol generation)=(the charge amount
used for the generation of methanol)/(the charge amount used for
all the reactions).times.100 [%].
Comparative Example 1
[0064] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that a Cu electrode containing no Au was used as
the cathode electrode.
[0065] As a result, CO, HCOOH, CH.sub.4, C.sub.2H.sub.4, aldehydes,
and ethanol were detected similarly to the inventive example 1.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, no signal was found at the detecting
position of the methanol generation. In other words, methanol was
not generated in the comparative example 1.
Comparative Example 2
[0066] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that an Au electrode containing no Cu was used as
the cathode electrode.
[0067] As a result, CO and HCOOH were detected. However, as shown
in FIG. 2, no signal was found at the detecting position of the
methanol generation. In other words, methanol was not generated in
the comparative example 2.
[0068] As just described, only in the case where the CuAu electrode
was used, the generation of methanol was confirmed, as shown in
FIG. 2. In other words, the present inventors believe that a
special effect which causes methanol to be generated occurs only in
the case where the CuAu electrode formed of an alloy of Cu and Au
is used, and that such a special effect does not occur in the case
where the Cu electrode or the Au electrode is used.
Inventive Example 2
[0069] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that a sodium chloride aqueous solution having a
concentration of 0.5 mol/L was used as the cathode-side electrolyte
solution.
[0070] As a result, it was confirmed that methanol was generated as
the reduction product of carbon dioxide.
Inventive Example 3
[0071] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that an electrode was used in which CuAu fine
particles having a similar composition ratio to CuAu of the
inventive example 1 were supported on a surface of a glassy carbon
substrate.
[0072] As a result, it was confirmed that the obtained reaction
products were almost the same as those of the inventive example 1
and that methanol was generated. Similar results were obtained in
the case of using an electrode in which a CuAu thin film having a
similar composition ratio to that of the inventive example 1 was
laminated on the glassy carbon.
Inventive Example 4
[0073] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that a CuAu electrode formed of
Cu.sub.0.995Au.sub.0.005 was used as the cathode electrode.
[0074] As a result, it was confirmed that methanol was generated as
the reduction product of carbon dioxide.
Inventive Example 5
[0075] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that a CuAu electrode formed of
Cu.sub.0.95Au.sub.0.05 was used as the cathode electrode.
[0076] As a result, it was confirmed that methanol was generated as
the reduction product of carbon dioxide.
Inventive Example 6
[0077] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that the potentiostat was controlled so that the
potential of the cathode electrode with respect to the potential of
the reference electrode was -1.7 volts.
[0078] As a result, it was confirmed that methanol was generated as
the reduction product of carbon dioxide.
Inventive Example 7
[0079] An experiment similar to that of the inventive example 1 was
performed, except that the potentiostat was controlled so that the
potential of the cathode electrode with respect to the potential of
the reference electrode was -2.1 volts.
[0080] As a result, it was confirmed that methanol was generated as
the reduction product of carbon dioxide.
[0081] Table 1 shows the comparison of the methanol generation
amounts obtained in the inventive examples 1-7 and the comparative
examples 1-2. In the graph shown in Table 1, the generation amount
of methanol generated in the inventive example 1 is set to be 100%.
Each of the generation amounts of methanol generated in the
inventive examples 2-7 and the comparative examples 1-2 is
indicated relatively.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Methanol generation amount (relative amount,
per unit charge amount) Inventive example 1 100 Inventive example 2
98 Inventive example 3 87 Inventive example 4 41 Inventive example
5 75 Inventive example 6 73 Inventive example 7 94 Comparative
example 1 0 Comparative example 2 0
[0082] As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that methanol was
generated in the inventive examples 1-7 and that methanol was not
generated in the comparative examples 1-2.
[0083] As just described, it was confirmed that methanol was
generated efficiently as the reduction product of carbon dioxide on
the cathode electrode by using the cathode electrode having a
region of CuAu.
[0084] While the present invention has been described with respect
to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in
numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those
specifically described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the
appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention that
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0085] The present disclosure provides a novel device and a novel
method for generating methanol as the reduction product of carbon
dioxide by using the cathode electrode having CuAu.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0086] 10, 100, 200 methanol generation device [0087] 11 container
[0088] 12 cathode electrode [0089] 13 anode electrode [0090] 14
external power supply [0091] 15 voltage measurement device [0092]
16 current measurement device [0093] 17, 17L, 17R electrolyte
solution [0094] 18 tube [0095] 19 solid electrolyte membrane [0096]
20 reference electrode
* * * * *