High-Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer.
Wenjin Zhu, Qiu-Cheng Chen, Yiqing Chen, Jianan Erick Huang, Guangcan Su, Hengzhou Liu, Weiyan Ni, Yuanjun Chen, Jiaqi Yu, Bosi Peng, Jiantao Li, Sungsik Lee, Shaoyun Hao, Yuxia Shen, Huajie Ze
Abstract
Open AccessElectrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide offers an electricity-powered route to make multicarbon liquid products. However, in conventional systems employing anion exchange membranes (AEMs), significant liquid product crossover leads to dilute product streams, increasing separation costs; and also produces unwanted anodic oxidation, further decreasing overall efficiency. Here, we report a forward-biased bipolar membrane (FB-BPM) system that achieves <10% liquid product crossover while sustaining a highly alkaline environment near the cathode, suppressing ethylene and hydrogen and favoring liquid products. By tuning catalyst composition to modulate the adsorption of *H and *OH, we steer selectivity toward acetate and alcohols. Using the FB-BPM system, we achieve >25 wt% acetate on CuZn and >15 wt% alcohols on CuSn directly from the cathode outlet stream.