Abstract: This invention includes a catalytic copper electrode is selected from the group comprising copper nanofoam, copper aerogel, and copper nanoparticles. Particular note is made of the catalytic copper electrode having at least about 5 times and preferably about 10 times the electrochemically accessible surface area as determined by the Randles-Sevcik equation at 50 mV/s. particular note is made of the catalytic coper electrode being a copper nanofoam electrode. This invention further includes a method for the reduction of CO2 by the steps of (i) providing a membrane divided electrochemical cell comprising an anode in a first cell compartment, a catalytic-copper electrode in a second cell compartment containing an aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode and cathode; (ii) introducing CO2 to said second cell compartment (iii) exposing said CO2 to said catalytic-copper electrode at a step potential between about ?0.8 and preferably about ?1.0 and about ?1.

Abstract: This invention includes a catalytic copper electrode is selected from the group comprising copper nanofoam, copper aerogel, and copper nanoparticles. Particular note is made of the catalytic copper electrode having at least about 5 times and preferably about 10 times the electrochemically accessible surface area as determined by the Randles-Sevcik equation at 50 mV/s. particular note is made of the catalytic coper electrode being a copper nanofoam electrode. This invention further includes a method for the reduction of CO2 by the steps of (i) providing a membrane divided electrochemical cell comprising an anode in a first cell compartment, a catalytic-copper electrode in a second cell compartment containing an aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode and cathode; (ii) introducing CO2 to said second cell compartment (iii) exposing said CO2 to said catalytic-copper electrode at a step potential between about ?0.8 and preferably about ?1.0 and about ?1.