Yasuaki Einaga

The catalytic, electrocatalytic, or photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into useful chemicals in high yield for industrial applications has so far proven difficult. Herein, we present our work on the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in seawater using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode under ambient conditions to produce formaldehyde. This method overcomes the usual limitation of the low yield of higher-order products, and also reduces the generation of H2 . In comparison with other electrode mat

High faradaic efficiencies can be achieved in the production of formic acid (HCOOH) by metal electrodes, such as Sn or Pb, in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ). However, the stability and environmental load in using them are problematic. The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to HCOOH was investigated in a flow cell using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. BDD electrodes have superior electrochemical properties to metal electrodes, and, moreover, are h

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have emerged as next-generation electrode materials for various applications in electrochemistry such as electrochemical sensors, electrochemical organic synthesis, CO₂ reduction, ozone water generation, electrochemiluminescence, etc. An optimal BDD electrode design is necessary to realize these applications. The electrochemical properties of BDD electrodes are determined by important parameters such as (1) surface termination, (2) surface orientat

The intercalation of inorganic materials into organized organic assemblies presents many opportunities for the development of new functional materials with superior physicochemical properties. We have designed a composite material comprising Prussian blue intercalated into photoresponsive organic molecules (azobenzene-containing multibilayer vesicles). Photoisomerization in the solid system was achieved by diluting the azobenzene-containing bilayer membrane in a poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix. The p

Unexpected phenomena displayed by low-boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes are disclosed in the present work. Generally, the presence of sp² nondiamond carbon impurities in BDD electrodes causes undesirable electrochemical properties, such as a reduced potential window and increased background current, etc. However, we found that the potential window and redox reaction in normally doped (1%) BDD and low-doped (0.1%) BDD exhibited opposite tendencies depending on the extent of sp<sup>2

The main product obtained by electrochemical reduction of CO₂ depends on the electrode material, and in many cases the Faradaic efficiency for this is determined by the electrolyte. Only a few investigations in which attempts to produce different products from the same electrode material have been done so far. In this work, we focus on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes with which plentiful amounts of formic acid and small amounts of carbon monoxide have been produced. By optimizing

The effects of sp2-bonded carbon impurities on the electrochemical properties of boron-doped diamond were investigated in moderately ([B] < 1020 cm−3) and heavily ([B] > 1021 cm−3) boron doping levels. Significant influences of sp2-bonded carbon impurities, which show glassy carbon-like electrochemical properties after anodic oxidation, were observed in heavily boron-doped diamond. This indicated that the significant effects of enhanced adsorption properties were possibly caused by surface relax

An electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) system by in situ coreactant production, where Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ emission is generated at a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode, is presented. The system takes advantage of the unique properties of BDD to promote oxidation of carbonate (CO₃^2-) into peroxydicarbonate (C₂O₆^2-), which further reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which acts as a corea

Direct evidence: The existence of methoxy radical species formed during an anodic oxidation in MeOH on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode was confirmed by ESR spectroscopy. Effective production of a neolignan, licarin A, was accomplished by the BDD-mediated anodic oxidation protocol (see picture).

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes are recognized as being superior to other electrode materials due to their outstanding chemical and dimensional stability, their exceptionally low background current, the extremely wide potential window for water electrolysis that they have, and their excellent biocompatibility. However, whereas these properties have been utilized in the rapid development of electroanalytical applications, very few studies have been done in relation to their applications in e