Reactive carbon capture using electrochemical reactors.

The electrolytic upgrading of CO presents a promising strategy to mitigate global CO emissions while generating valuable carbon-based products such as carbon monoxide, formate, and ethylene. However, the adoption of industrial-scale CO electrolyzers is hindered by the high energy and capital costs associated with the purification and pressurization of captured CO prior to electrolysis. One promising solution is "reactive carbon capture," which involves the electrolytic conversion of the eluent from CO capture units, or the "reactive carbon solution," directly into valuable products.

Reactive Carbon Capture Enables CO Electrolysis with Liquid Feedstocks.

ConspectusThe electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is a promising strategy for mitigating global CO emissions while simultaneously yielding valuable chemicals and fuels, such as CO, HCOO, and CH. This approach becomes especially appealing when integrated with surplus renewable electricity, as the ensuing production of fuels could facilitate the closure of the carbon cycle. Despite these advantages, the realization of industrial-scale electrolyzers fed with CO will be challenged by the substantial energy inputs required to isolate, pressurize, and purify CO prior to electrolysis.

Visualization of CO electrolysis using optical coherence tomography.

Electrolysers offer an appealing technology for conversion of CO into high-value chemicals. However, there are few tools available to track the reactions that occur within electrolysers. Here we report an electrolysis optical coherence tomography platform to visualize the chemical reactions occurring in a CO electrolyser.