Researchers at Cornell University have revitalized the 120-year-old Cottrell equation to enhance the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable products, aiming to address environmental issues by transforming greenhouse gases into renewable resources. The Cottrell equation, formulated by Frederick Gardner Cottrell in 1903, describes the relationship between electrical current and time during the reduction or oxidation of species in electrochemical processes. By applying this equation, the Cornell team, led by doctoral student Rileigh Casebolt DiDomenico under Professor Tobias Hanrath, seeks to control reaction pathways that enable the production of chemicals like ethylene, ethane, and ethanol from CO2. DiDomenico noted that a clearer understanding of reaction pathways would allow for better control over the production of desired outputs. The simplicity and few assumptions of the Cottrell equation position it as a more reliable tool compared to modern computational methods, which often complicate experimental comparisons. Their findings published in ACS Catalysis underscore the potential of leveraging classic techniques to advance contemporary electrochemical research, thus offering a pathway for utilizing CO2 as a feedstock for chemicals and as a medium for renewable electricity storage. The study received support from the National Science Foundation and Cornell initiatives.
