Carbonyl-linked cobalt polyphthalocyanines as high-selectivity catalyst for electrochemical CO reduction

One type of carbonyl-linked cobalt polyphthalocyanine (CL-CoPPc) is synthesised as catalysts for use in electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction (ECR). Carbonyl linkages can decrease the intermolecular π-π stacking, and serve as intramolecular "gullies" to impede proton transfer and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, the CL-CoPPc exhibits highly active and selective CO 2 reduction to carbon monoxide (CO). Carbonyl-linked cobalt polyphthalocyanines exhibit a highly selective CO 2 reduction performance due to the electronegative carbonyl groups impeding the proton transfer.