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Durable CO2 conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 & , 2024. "Durable CO2 conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7997), pages 86-91, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:626:y:2024:i:7997:d:10.1038_s41586-023-06917-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06917-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kang Yang & Ming Li & Tianqi Gao & Guoliang Xu & Di Li & Yao Zheng & Qiang Li & Jingjing Duan, 2024. "An acid-tolerant metal-organic framework for industrial CO2 electrolysis using a proton exchange membrane," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Lili Zhang & Ning Zhang & Huishan Shang & Zhiyi Sun & Zihao Wei & Jingtao Wang & Yuanting Lei & Xiaochen Wang & Dan Wang & Yafei Zhao & Zhongti Sun & Fang Zhang & Xu Xiang & Bing Zhang & Wenxing Chen, 2024. "High-density asymmetric iron dual-atom sites for efficient and stable electrochemical water oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Huiying Deng & Tingting Liu & Wenshan Zhao & Jundong Wang & Yuesheng Zhang & Shuzhen Zhang & Yu Yang & Chao Yang & Wenzhi Teng & Zhuo Chen & Gengfeng Zheng & Fengwang Li & Yaqiong Su & Jingshu Hui & Y, 2024. "Substituent tuning of Cu coordination polymers enables carbon-efficient CO2 electroreduction to multi-carbon products," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Kaihang Yue & Yanyang Qin & Honghao Huang & Zhuoran Lv & Mingzhi Cai & Yaqiong Su & Fuqiang Huang & Ya Yan, 2024. "Stabilized Cu0 -Cu1+ dual sites in a cyanamide framework for selective CO2 electroreduction to ethylene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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