Principles of Electrocatalysis

The challenges associated with sustainable fuels production have seen a major growth in the need for, and application of, electrocatalysis in chemical transformations. Electrochemical analysis allows for a detailed and quantitative thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of critical reaction mechanisms that govern the most pressing energy concerns. This chapter will address the current state of the art in homogeneous molecular electrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction. Before discussion of any applications of electrochemical catalysis, the fundamentals of cyclic voltammetry are summarized followed by an introduction to the topics of proton-coupled electron transfer and turnover frequency-voltammetry analysis (including foot-of-the-wave analysis), which are necessary to gain a true appreciation of any CO 2 reduction electrocatalyst. Armed with this knowledge, interpretation and appreciation of scientific advancements in this field will be straightforward.