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Porous membranes enable selective and stable zero-gap acidic CO2 electrolysers

Author

Listed:
  • Shilei Wei

    (Nankai University)

  • Hang Hua

    (Nankai University)

  • Yuxuan Zhao

    (Nankai University)

  • Jingshan Luo

    (Nankai University
    Nankai University
    Nankai University)

Abstract

Zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) CO2 electrolysers offer high energy efficiency and promise for industrial application. However, the transport of carbonates within an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser leads to CO2 loss, thereby limiting carbon utilization efficiency. Emerging acidic anolyte electrolysers using cation exchange membrane (CEM) can address this challenge but face critical stability issues, including accelerated hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and persistent salt precipitation. Here, we propose a porous membrane (PM) as an alternative to the CEM in acidic anolyte electrolysers. The system demonstrates continuous operation at 100 mA cm−2 for 200 h without salt precipitation, while maintaining nearly 100% CO selectivity. Furthermore, large-scale device (100 cm2) also shows stable performance. Mechanism analysis suggests that enhanced water permeation and bidirectional ion transfer are critical for achieving stable performance in acidic anolyte electrolysers. These findings offer a feasible approach for high-performance, stable and scalable acidic MEA CO2 electrolysers.

Suggested Citation

  • Shilei Wei & Hang Hua & Yuxuan Zhao & Jingshan Luo, 2025. "Porous membranes enable selective and stable zero-gap acidic CO2 electrolysers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64342-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64342-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peng Zhu & Zhen-Yu Wu & Ahmad Elgazzar & Changxin Dong & Tae-Ung Wi & Feng-Yang Chen & Yang Xia & Yuge Feng & Mohsen Shakouri & Jung Yoon (Timothy) Kim & Zhiwei Fang & T. Alan Hatton & Haotian Wang, 2023. "Continuous carbon capture in an electrochemical solid-electrolyte reactor," Nature, Nature, vol. 618(7967), pages 959-966, June.
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