Splitting Co2 Into Co And O-2 By A Single Catalyst

The metal complex [(tpy)(Mebim-py)Ru-II(S)](2+) (tpy = 2,2' : 6'0,2 ''-terpyridine; Mebim-py = 3-methyl-1-pyridylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene; S = solvent) is a robust, reactive electrocatalyst toward both water oxidation to oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction to carbon monoxide. Here we describe its use as a single electrocatalyst for CO2 splitting, CO2 -> CO + 1/2O(2), in a two-compartment electrochemical cell.