Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (eCO₂RR) is a promising technology for CO₂ utilization, which is crucial in mitigating climate change. However, the range of products that can be selectively produced through eCO₂RR remains limited, with two-electron reduction being the most developed process. During her PhD studies, Julia explored new approaches to shift the selectivity toward more deeply reduced products, including the preparation of bimetallic complexes and the addition of Lewis acidic boranes. The use of homogeneous transition metal catalysts in eCO₂RR provides valuable mechanistic insights into the factors that influence selectivity. 
Although the approaches tested in this thesis did not yield the expected outcomes, they offer important insights into the challenges associated with eCO₂RR. By identifying both pitfalls and possibilities, this work contributes to refining strategies for achieving more efficient and selective CO₂ reduction in future research.

The PhD study was completed at Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.
This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 27 September 2024 at 13:00
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Lecture Theatre iNANO AUD, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Testing new approaches to homogeneous electrochemical CO2 reduction 
Contact information: Iuliia Kolodiazhnaia, e-mail: kolodjashnaja.julia@gmail.com, tel.: +45 91835369
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Lukas J. Goossen, Lehrstuhl für Organische Chemie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Associate professor Jiwoong Lee, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Associate Professor Elena Ferapontova (chair), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Professor Troels Skrydstrup, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Assistant Professor Alonso Rosas-Hernández, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C