Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide: Overcoming the Limitations of Photosynthesis
Chapter 2: Bio-inspired and Bio-electrochemical Approaches in CO2 Reduction Catalysis
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Published:21 May 2018
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Thomas Risbridger, Ross Anderson, 2018. "Bio-inspired and Bio-electrochemical Approaches in CO2 Reduction Catalysis", Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide: Overcoming the Limitations of Photosynthesis, Frank Marken, David Fermin
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Biological carbon dioxide reduction is a critical reaction for sustaining life on earth. CO2 is the primary chemical building block for most complex and higher energy carbon compounds required for metabolism and growth, and nature has developed incredibly elegant mechanisms for its reduction and up-conversion into such materials.1 Enzymes broadly termed carbon dioxide reductases (CO2Red) efficiently catalyse the reduction of CO2 into a variety of lower oxidation state carbon products at rates that enable the functioning of complex organisms.2 Autotrophs utilise CO2 as a substrate, powered by solar radiation in the case of phototrophs (Figure 2.1), or from reducing chemicals in the case of chemotrophs; such organisms are the fundamental chemical energy source for all non-autotrophic life-forms.3