Non-noble metal oxides consisting of CuO and TiO₂ (CuO/TiO₂ catalyst) for CO₂ reduction were fabricated using a simple hydrothermal method. The designed catalysts of CuO could be in situ reduced to a metallic Cu-forming Cu/TiO₂ catalyst, which could efficiently catalyze CO₂ reduction to multi-carbon oxygenates (ethanol, acetone, and n-propanol) with a maximum overall faradaic efficiency of 47.4% at a potential of −0.85 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.5 M KHCO₃ solution. The catalytic activity for CO₂ electroreduction strongly depends on the CuO contents of the catalysts as-prepared, resulting in different electrochemistry surface areas. The significantly improved CO₂ catalytic activity of CuO/TiO₂ might be due to the strong CO₂ adsorption ability.

A new electrochemical procedure for electrosynthesis of organic carbonates from CO₂ and alcohols has been established in CO₂-saturated room temperature ionic liquid BMIMBF₄ solution, followed by addition of an alkylating agent. The synthesis was carried out under mild (P CO₂ =1.0 atm, T = 55 °C) and safe conditions. The use of volatile and toxic solvents and catalysts as well as of any additional supporting electrolytes has been avoided. The influence of temperature, cathode material, working potential, alcohol concentration and the charge passed on the reaction using methanol (1a) as the model compound was examined. The ionic liquid used for the reaction was recyclable. The obtained results showed that the primary and secondary alcohols were converted in good yields, whereas tertiary alcohol and phenol were unreactive.

Morphology-controlled CuO nanoparticles for electroreduction of CO ₂ with an excellent selectivity for ethanol.

A highly recyclable organically doped alloy catalyst for electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to different alcohols.

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂to methanol with 35% Faradaic efficiency on organically doped palladium cathode in aqueous solution.

A highly stable and recyclable catalyst, [PYD]@Cu–Pd, was demonstrated to have dual activity for electro-reduction of CO ₂ in aqueous solution.