Patent ID: 8721866

Claim:
A method for electrochemical production of synthesis gas from carbon dioxide, comprising the steps of: (A) bubbling carbon dioxide into a solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst, the catalyst selected from the group consisting of an aromatic heterocyclic amine containing oxygen and an aromatic heterocyclic amine containing sulfur, in a divided electrochemical cell, wherein (i) said divided electrochemical cell comprises an anode in a first cell compartment and a cathode in a second cell compartment, (ii) said cathode reducing said carbon dioxide into synthesis gas, the synthesis gas includes a plurality of components; (B) establishing a molar ratio of said components in said synthesis gas by adjusting at least one of (i) a cathode material and (ii) a surface morphology of said cathode; and (C) separating said synthesis gas from said solution.