Descripción del proyecto
The electrochemical conversion of CO2 to chemical fuels is a promising technology for recycling CO2 and closing the carbon cycle. Amon the different products of the electrochemical reduction of CO2, multicarbon (C2+) product are more desirable because of their high energy density and high market price. Among them, ethylene is widely used for the production of raw materials and has a market price around 1000€/tons, which suggests relatively low threshold towards profitability. The development of such a technology to convert CO2 to C2H4 is however limited by the lack of selectivity and efficient catalysts to drive the reaction, while CO2 mass transportation to the active sites limits the conversion rate. During the course of our ERC-StG 2D-4-CO2, we have developed Cu-based electrocatalysts modified with aromatic functions, which demonstrated strongly improved selectivity for ethylene at industry relevant current density of 300 mA cm-2. The aim of the HIPCEO2 project is to apply the novel Cu-based catalyst develop in our group in a high-pressure membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer. Our specific goals are to realize a prototype with electrode size of 100 cm2 and verified stability of 1000 hours that will be used as a demonstrator to reach out potentials end-users and future partners.