Production of syngas plus oxygen from CO2 in a gas-diffusion electrode-based electrolytic cell

Abstract Most of the research published in electrochemical CO 2 reduction has been reported for half-cells, with little consideration of the overall system. However, it is necessary to consider the eventual involvement of full cells. We conducted CO 2 reduction and water oxidation in a CO 2 -reducing full cell with larger geometric surface area (2×2 cm 2 ) and with a relatively small inter-electrode gap (1–2 mm) in order to minimize ohmic losses. The result was an ca. 1:1 CO/H 2 (v/v) gas ratio at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 and a cell voltage of 3.05 V, producing O 2 at the counter electrode. Based on an enthalpic voltage of 1.36 V, this constitutes an overall energy efficiency of 44.6%.

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