Ultra‐High Temperature Molten Oxide Electrochemistry

Abstract

Recently, the ultra-high temperature electrochemistry (UTE, about > 1000 °C) has emerged, which represents an exploration to extend the temperature limit of human technology in electrochemical engineering. UTE has farreaching impact on revolutionary low-carbon metal extraction and the in situ production of oxygen for deep-space exploration. It is hence of urgency to systematically summarize the development of UTE. In this Review, the basic concepts of UTE and the physicochemical properties of molten oxides are analyzed. The principles in the design of inert anodes for the oxygen evolution reaction in molten oxides are discussed, which forms a solid basis for the in situ production of oxygen from simulated lunar regolith by UTE. Furthermore, liquid metal cathodes for revolutionary titanium extraction and ironmaking/steelmaking are highlighted. With emphasis on the key challenges and perspectives, the Review can provide valuable inspiration for the rapid advancement of UTE.

Pure and Metal‐confining Carbon Nanotubes through Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide in Ca‐based Molten Salts

“…Solar‐driven electrochemical CO 2 reduction hence holds promise for artificial photosynthesis. Molten salt electrolysis has a solid foundation in industrial extraction of active metals, and is recently demonstrated as a promising method to convert CO 2 into advanced energy materials for an overall carbon‐neutral utilization of CO 2 [4–8] . Electrolytic aluminum industry as the most mature application of molten salt electrochemical metallurgy process outputs over 40 million metric tons Al in 2022 in China [9] .…”

“…Molten salt electrolysis has a solid foundation in industrial extraction of active metals, and is recently demonstrated as a promising method to convert CO 2 into advanced energy materials for an overall carbon-neutral utilization of CO 2 . [4][5][6][7][8] Electrolytic aluminum industry as the most mature application of molten salt electrochemical metallurgy process outputs over 40 million metric tons Al in 2022 in China. [9] Using excess capacity of electrolytic aluminum industry to electrolyze industrial CO 2 emission can not only reduce carbon emission but also relieve the pressure of production regulations.…”