Mapping Spatial Effects in CO2 Electrolysis

Abstract

The shift towards a carbon-neutral economy represents a considerable challenge in the search of sustainable carbon-sources. The electrolysis of CO2 presents an attractive, direct pathway to produce sustainable fuels using only CO2, water, and electricity. The rapid shift towards high reaction rates and industrially relevant process conditions in just a few short years has opened new research directions towards understanding the intricacy of the complex interfaces involved in this reaction. The two key enabling technologies: gas-diffusion electrodes and membrane electrode assemblies, have greatly increased efficiency metrics of CO2 electrolyzers, but many questions on the homogeneity and activity of these electrodes remain unanswered....