(584r) Operational Strategy for Carbon Monoxide Electrolysis

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂R) offers a promising pathway for the sustainable production of value-added chemicals and fuels, particularly when integrated with renewable energy sources. A two-step process—first reducing CO₂ to CO, followed by CO reduction (COR) to multi-carbon (C₂₊) products—has demonstrated high energy efficiency and operational stability¹. Despite these advancements, critical challenges remain in enhancing the selectivity and stability of electrolysis systems under variable renewable energy inputs.

In this presentation, we discuss recent progress and remaining obstacles in integrating renewable electricity with CO₂/CO electrolysis. Our research emphasizes the importance of operating conditions to maintain stable performance under fluctuating power input. Furthermore, we explore the economic viability of producing acetic acid via tandem CO₂ electrolysis under such conditions. The outcomes of this study contribute to the development of cost-effective and sustainable strategies for converting CO₂ gas into value-added chemicals, supporting the transition toward a circular carbon economy.

Reference:

(1) Deng, W.^†; Lee, A.^†; Dai, W.^†; Cherniack, L.; Crandall, B. S.; Li, H.; Jiao, F*. Techno-Economics of Polymer-Membrane-Based CO₂ Electrolysers. Nat. Rev. Clean Technol. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44359-025-00045-1.