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Continuous carbon capture in an electrochemical solid-electrolyte reactor

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Zhu

    (Rice University)

  • Zhen-Yu Wu

    (Rice University)

  • Ahmad Elgazzar

    (Rice University)

  • Changxin Dong

    (Rice University)

  • Tae-Ung Wi

    (Rice University)

  • Feng-Yang Chen

    (Rice University)

  • Yang Xia

    (Rice University)

  • Yuge Feng

    (Rice University)

  • Mohsen Shakouri

    (University of Saskatchewan)

  • Jung Yoon (Timothy) Kim

    (Rice University)

  • Zhiwei Fang

    (Rice University)

  • T. Alan Hatton

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Haotian Wang

    (Rice University
    Rice University
    Rice University)

Abstract

Electrochemical carbon-capture technologies, with renewable electricity as the energy input, are promising for carbon management but still suffer from low capture rates, oxygen sensitivity or system complexity1–6. Here we demonstrate a continuous electrochemical carbon-capture design by coupling oxygen/water (O2/H2O) redox couple with a modular solid-electrolyte reactor7. By performing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) redox electrolysis, our device can efficiently absorb dilute carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules at the high-alkaline cathode–membrane interface to form carbonate ions, followed by a neutralization process through the proton flux from the anode to continuously output a high-purity (>99%) CO2 stream from the middle solid-electrolyte layer. No chemical inputs were needed nor side products generated during the whole carbon absorption/release process. High carbon-capture rates (440 mA cm−2, 0.137 mmolCO2 min−1 cm−2 or 86.7 kgCO2 day−1 m−2), high Faradaic efficiencies (>90% based on carbonate), high carbon-removal efficiency (>98%) in simulated flue gas and low energy consumption (starting from about 150 kJ per molCO2) were demonstrated in our carbon-capture solid-electrolyte reactor, suggesting promising practical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Zhu & Zhen-Yu Wu & Ahmad Elgazzar & Changxin Dong & Tae-Ung Wi & Feng-Yang Chen & Yang Xia & Yuge Feng & Mohsen Shakouri & Jung Yoon (Timothy) Kim & Zhiwei Fang & T. Alan Hatton & Haotian Wang, 2023. "Continuous carbon capture in an electrochemical solid-electrolyte reactor," Nature, Nature, vol. 618(7967), pages 959-966, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:618:y:2023:i:7967:d:10.1038_s41586-023-06060-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06060-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhen Xu & Grace Mapstone & Zeke Coady & Mengnan Wang & Tristan L. Spreng & Xinyu Liu & Davide Molino & Alexander C. Forse, 2024. "Enhancing electrochemical carbon dioxide capture with supercapacitors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yaowei Huang & Da Xu & Shuai Deng & Meng Lin, 2024. "A hybrid electro-thermochemical device for methane production from the air," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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