PhTA (4-Phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole, >97%) Powder as Electrolyte Additive for CO2 Electroreduction (CO2RR), CCO2RREAPhTA

In electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR), 4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (4-Ph-Trz) belongs to a class of nitrogen-heterocyclic organic additives used to refine catalyst selectivity and suppress the competing Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).While imidazolium-based additives are more famous, triazole derivatives are gaining attention for their ability to form stable, protective layers on transition metal catalysts like Copper (Cu) and Silver (Ag).

4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole functions primarily as a surface-modifying agent rather than a bulk electrolyte component. (1) Selective Adsorption: The nitrogen atoms in the triazole ring have lone pairs that coordinate strongly with metal surfaces. The phenyl group provides a hydrophobic "tail." Together, they form a self-assembled or loosely organized layer on the cathode. (2) Proton Shielding: By covering active sites with a hydrophobic organic layer, the additive physically blocks water molecules (H2O) from reaching the catalyst surface. This effectively starves the HER, which requires water as a proton source. (3) Intermediate Stabilization: The triazole ring can interact with CO reduction intermediates (like *COOH or *CO) through dipole-dipole interactions or hydrogen bonding, lowering the activation energy for CO2 conversion.

The use of 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole is typically targeted at improving Faradaic Efficiency (FE) for C1 products. (1) Shifts performance toward Carbon Monoxide (CO) or Formate. (2) Reduce H2 production from >50% to <10% on certain catalysts. (3) Often allows for CO2 reduction at lower (more positive) potentials by stabilizing polar intermediates. (4) The phenyl-triazole bond is electrochemically robust, preventing the additive from degrading rapidly under high negative bias.

Part Number	CCO2RREAPhTA (C-CO2RR-EA-PhTA)
CAS	1680-44-0
Chemical Formula/Structure	C8H7N3
Appearance	White to light yellow powder
Molecular Weight	145.16
Melting Point	120-121 ℃
Package Grade	1 g/bottle

References

(1）Y. Shi, et al., Immobilized Azole Layer Tunes Interfacial Hydrogen Source for CO2 Electroreduction in Strong Acid, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 39, 35698–35704.