Cutting-edge advances in pressurized electrocatalytic reactors

Abstract

As an important component in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, electrochemical reactors (ECRs) are widely used for commodity chemical synthesis, including electrolytic H₂ production, NH₃ synthesis, and high-value CO₂ utilization. However, ECRs pose challenges related to low energy efficiency and selectivity due to the low solubility of their gaseous reactants, slow kinetics, and limitations in mass transfer. It is thus imperative to develop advanced high-pressure (HP) ECRs to address these issues. In this review, we start by presenting a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental mechanisms of HP ECRs. Then, we summarize the state-of-the-art HP ECR applications for water electrolysis, the N₂ reduction reaction, and the CO₂ reduction reaction. We also demonstrate that mathematical simulations are valuable tools for digital validation and guidance to accelerate the design of better reactors. Finally, we make recommendations on developing relevant specifications and standards for the industrial application of HP ECRs.