Electrochemical CO₂ reduction in membrane-electrode assemblies

Abstract

Electrochemical conversion of gaseous CO2 to value-added products and fuels is a promising approach to achieve net-zero CO2 emission energy systems. Significant efforts have been achieved in the design and synthesis of highly active and selective electrocatalysts for this reaction and their reaction mechanism. To perform an efficient conversion and desired product selectivity in practical applications, we need an active, cost-effective, stable, and scalable electrolyzer design. Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) can be an efficient solution to address the key challenges in the aqueous gas diffusion electrodes (GDE), e.g., ohmic resistances and complex reactor design. This review presents a critical overview of recent advances in experimental design and simulation of MEAs for CO2 reduction reaction, including the shortcomings and remedial strategies. In the last section, the remaining challenges and future research opportunities are suggested to support the advancement of CO2 electrochemical technologies.