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Efficiency and selectivity of CO2 reduction to CO on gold gas diffusion electrodes in acidic media

Author

Listed:
  • Mariana C. O. Monteiro

    (Leiden University)

  • Matthew F. Philips

    (Leiden University
    Avantium)

  • Klaas Jan P. Schouten

    (Avantium
    University of Amsterdam)

  • Marc T. M. Koper

    (Leiden University)

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO is a promising technology for replacing production processes employing fossil fuels. Still, low energy efficiencies hinder the production of CO at commercial scale. CO2 electrolysis has mainly been performed in neutral or alkaline media, but recent fundamental work shows that high selectivities for CO can also be achieved in acidic media. Therefore, we investigate the feasibility of CO2 electrolysis at pH 2–4 at indrustrially relevant conditions, using 10 cm2 gold gas diffusion electrodes. Operating at current densities up to 200 mA cm−2, we obtain CO faradaic efficiencies between 80–90% in sulfate electrolyte, with a 30% improvement of the overall process energy efficiency, in comparison with neutral media. Additionally, we find that weakly hydrated cations are crucial for accomplishing high reaction rates and enabling CO2 electrolysis in acidic media. This study represents a step towards the application of acidic electrolyzers for CO2 electroreduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariana C. O. Monteiro & Matthew F. Philips & Klaas Jan P. Schouten & Marc T. M. Koper, 2021. "Efficiency and selectivity of CO2 reduction to CO on gold gas diffusion electrodes in acidic media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24936-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24936-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Haifeng Shen & Huanyu Jin & Haobo Li & Herui Wang & Jingjing Duan & Yan Jiao & Shi-Zhang Qiao, 2023. "Acidic CO2-to-HCOOH electrolysis with industrial-level current on phase engineered tin sulfide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Jiawei Li & Hongliang Zeng & Xue Dong & Yimin Ding & Sunpei Hu & Runhao Zhang & Yizhou Dai & Peixin Cui & Zhou Xiao & Donghao Zhao & Liujiang Zhou & Tingting Zheng & Jianping Xiao & Jie Zeng & Chuan X, 2023. "Selective CO2 electrolysis to CO using isolated antimony alloyed copper," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Hai-Gang Qin & Yun-Fan Du & Yi-Yang Bai & Fu-Zhi Li & Xian Yue & Hao Wang & Jian-Zhao Peng & Jun Gu, 2023. "Surface-immobilized cross-linked cationic polyelectrolyte enables CO2 reduction with metal cation-free acidic electrolyte," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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