Electrochemical Reactors for CO2 Conversion

Abstract

Increasing risks from global warming impose an urgent need to develop technologically and economically feasible means to reduce CO2 content in the atmosphere. Carbon capture and utilization technologies and carbon markets have been established for this purpose. Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) presents a promising solution, fulfilling carbon-neutral goals and sustainable materials production. This review aims to elaborate on various components in CO2RR reactors and relevant industrial processing. First, major performance metrics are discussed, with requirements obtained from a techno-economic analysis. Detailed discussions then emphasize on (i) technical benefits and challenges regarding different reactor types, (ii) critical features in flow cell systems that enhance CO2 diffusion compared to conventional H-cells, (iii) electrolyte and its effect on liquid phase electrolyzers, (iv) catalysts for feasible products (carbon monoxide, formic acid and multi-carbons) and (v) strategies on flow channel and anode design as next steps. Finally, specific perspectives on CO2 feeds for the reactor and downstream purification techniques are annotated as part of the CO2RR industrial processing. Overall, we focus on the component and system aspects for the design of a CO2RR reactor, while pointing out challenges and opportunities to realize the ultimate goal of viable carbon capture and utilization technology.

An Analysis of Research on Membrane-Coated Electrodes in the 2001–2019 Period: Potential Application to CO2 Capture and Utilization

“…Other countries also collected in Table 1 with contributions in MCEC and CO 2 are Chile, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, which are mostly by authors from the same or different affiliations within the same country. These results also confirm the dispersion and multidisciplinary character of the area under study and the relevance of the main research centers and the main coal-dependent countries in the present century, as recently reviewed for the electrochemical CO 2 conversion in general [5].…”

“…The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 would be a low-temperature alternative if the intermittency of renewable electricity production and its storage in energy bonds of chemical fuels were commercial [1]. These improvements have been generally addressed by focusing on the optimization of electrocatalysts, electrodes, reactor types, and flow cell systems, which often differ in the type of ion exchange membrane whose role is limited to the separator between cell compartments and ion transfer, type of electrolyte, and phase as well as strategies on flow channel and compartments design [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Homogeneous and heterogeneous molecular catalysts for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

“…These optimizations ultimately result in high energy efficiencies, product selectivities, and a reduction to operational costs. [154][155][156][157][158][159][160] An additional benet of ow cell electrolyzers is the translatability of their results to modern industrial practices. Generalized ow cell setups include a gas diffusion layer (GDL) which is directly exposed to the electrolyte solution (Fig.…”

CO2 Electroreduction to Multicarbon Products

“…Current energy storage and utilization patterns demand a revolutionary change to support the needs of rapid industrialization and the population explosion globally. The capture, storage, and utilization (CSU) of CO 2 is a means to reduce the atmospheric CO 2 concentration by converting CO 2 into fuels and chemicals based on hydrocarbons . The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) has received momentous attention, because of the use of renewable energy sources (such as solar cells and wind power) and because the reaction can occur at room temperature and pressure .…”