Kilowatt-scale tandem CO2 electrolysis

Abstract

The tandem CO₂ electrolysis system refers to a setup where multiple electrochemical cells are connected in series to efficiently convert CO₂ into desired products, such as organic compounds or fuels, using electrical energy. Jiao et al.’s recent study presents the development and successful operation of a kilowatt-scale tandem CO₂ electrolyzer for producing acetate and ethylene. Unlike traditional direct CO₂ electrolysis, which faces issues like low selectivity for multi-carbon products and the formation of unwanted carbonates, the tandem system first converts CO₂ to CO and then to C₂₊ products. This approach improves efficiency and product purity, achieving 96% pure acetate and resilient performance over 200 h. This marks a significant advancement toward industrial-scale CO₂ utilization, providing a pathway for commercial viability.