Unintended cation crossover influences CO₂ reduction selectivity in Cu-based zero-gap electrolysers.

ABSTRACT: Membrane electrode assemblies enable CO₂ electrolysis at industrially relevant rates, yet their operational stability is often limited by formation of solid precipitates in the cathode pores, triggered by cation crossover from the anolyte due to imperfect ion exclusion by anion exchange membranes. Here we show that anolyte concentration affects the degree of cation movement through the membranes, and this substantially influences the behaviors of copper catalysts in catholyte-free CO₂ electrolysers. Systematic variation of the anolyte (KOH or KHCO₃) ionic strength produced a distinct switch in selectivity between either predominantly CO or C₂₊ products (mainly C₂H₄) which closely correlated with the quantity of alkali metal

SUBMITTER: El-Nagar GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10097803 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature