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CO2 Conversion Via Nanoporous PS-PVP Block Copolymer: Revisiting the Pyridyl Radical

Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Grand Ballroom (Hilton New Orleans Riverside)
H. Ghebremichael and A. Sidorenko (University of the Sciences)
The threat of climate change proves to be one of mankind’s most daunting challenges. Carbon dioxide emissions are believed to be a leading contributor to climate change. The development of nontoxic and abundant catalysts for the reduction of CO2 is critical in enabling this much needed technology. A method of reverse combustion would be prove to be advantageous in mitigating climate change and providing for a carbon neutral fuel source. Pyridine has shown to be electrocatalytically active at reducing carbon dioxide at low overpotentials to hydrocarbons.The development of nanoporous polymer thin films have exhibited many useful properties that have yet to be exploited. Taking advantage of the microphase separation phenomenon of poly(styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine), PS-P4VP, block copolymers allows for pyridine moieties to assemble onto the cylindrical interior of these nanoporous surfaces. These moieties we've shown to be both electrocatalytically active in conjunction with conductive co-catalyst via a radical mechanism.