Durable CO2 conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system

Wensheng Fang, Wei Guo, Ruihu Lu, Ya Yan, Xiaokang Liu, Dan Wu, Fu Min Li, Yansong Zhou, Chaohui He, Chenfeng Xia, Huiting Niu, Sicong Wang, Youwen Liu, Yu Mao, Chengyi Zhang, Bo You, Yuanjie Pang, Lele Duan, Xuan Yang, Fei Song, Tianyou Zhai, Guoxiong Wang, Xingpeng Guo, Bien Tan, Tao Yao (), Ziyun Wang () and Bao Yu Xia ()
Additional contact information
Wensheng Fang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wei Guo: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Ruihu Lu: University of Auckland
Ya Yan: CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaokang Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Dan Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Fu Min Li: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yansong Zhou: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Chaohui He: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Chenfeng Xia: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Huiting Niu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Sicong Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Youwen Liu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yu Mao: University of Auckland
Chengyi Zhang: University of Auckland
Bo You: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yuanjie Pang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Lele Duan: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xuan Yang: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Fei Song: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tianyou Zhai: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Guoxiong Wang: State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xingpeng Guo: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Bien Tan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Tao Yao: University of Science and Technology of China
Ziyun Wang: University of Auckland
Bao Yu Xia: Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature, 2024, vol. 626, issue 7997, 86-91

Abstract: Abstract Electrolysis that reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) to useful chemicals can, in principle, contribute to a more sustainable and carbon-neutral future1–6. However, it remains challenging to develop this into a robust process because efficient conversion typically requires alkaline conditions in which CO2 precipitates as carbonate, and this limits carbon utilization and the stability of the system7–12. Strategies such as physical washing, pulsed operation and the use of dipolar membranes can partially alleviate these problems but do not fully resolve them11,13–15. CO2 electrolysis in acid electrolyte, where carbonate does not form, has therefore been explored as an ultimately more workable solution16–18. Herein we develop a proton-exchange membrane system that reduces CO2 to formic acid at a catalyst that is derived from waste lead–acid batteries and in which a lattice carbon activation mechanism contributes. When coupling CO2 reduction with hydrogen oxidation, formic acid is produced with over 93% Faradaic efficiency. The system is compatible with start-up/shut-down processes, achieves nearly 91% single-pass conversion efficiency for CO2 at a current density of 600 mA cm−2 and cell voltage of 2.2 V and is shown to operate continuously for more than 5,200 h. We expect that this exceptional performance, enabled by the use of a robust and efficient catalyst, stable three-phase interface and durable membrane, will help advance the development of carbon-neutral technologies.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06917-5

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