Materials and Manufacturing of Electrochemical Cells for Reduction of CO2 into Liquid Fuels

Co-electrolysis of CO2 and H2O are conventionally performed with solid oxide electrolyzer cells at temperatures between 750 1000 °C. Electrolysis performed at these high temperatures will give syngas (CO and H2) as the product. Syngas can then be further converted into synthetic fuels (like hydrocarbons or alcohols) at lower temperatures. [1] Co-electrolysis at temperatures of 200 300 °C, where hydrocarbons are stable, might have the advantage that CO2 and H2O can be converted into liquid synthetic fuels directly in the cell. Operating at temperatures above 200 °C and at elevated pressures may make it possible to use non precious metals as electrocatalysts. Both new electrolyte and electrode materials are needed to build up electrochemical cells for this purpose.