Terpyridine complexes of first row transition metals and electrochemical reduction of CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e to CO

Homoleptic terpyridine complexes of first row transition metals are evaluated as catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. Ni and Co-based catalytic systems are shown to reduce CO2 to CO under the conditions tested. The Ni complex was found to exhibit selectivity for CO2 over proton reduction while the Co-based system generates mixtures of CO and H2 with CO:H2 ratios being tuneable through variation of the applied potential. This journal is © the Partner Organisations 2014