DataVXACS Energy LettersPaper
journal article·2026-01-09

Reactive Carbon Electrolysis at <3 V, in an Electrolyzer Containing a Bipolar Membrane Operating under Forward Bias

Ribwar Ahmadi, Sian E. Dillon, Andrew M. L. Jewlal, Yongwook Kim, Marzieh Namdari, Curtis P. Berlinguette

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 11· Issue 1
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Source abstract

Abstract

Reactive carbon electrolysis converts liquid CO 2 capture solutions, such as KHCO 3, into value-added products like CO while regenerating the sorbent. These electrolyzers typically operate under reverse bias using bipolar membranes, splitting water into H + and OH –: H + releases CO 2 from the sorbent at the cathode, while OH – participates in the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode. Here, we demonstrate that electrolyzers operating in forward bias can also sustain reactive carbon capture. In forward bias, protons and hydroxide ions recombine at the membrane junction to form water, which avoids the high energy penalty associated with reverse-bias operation. Consequently, at 100 mA cm –2, forward bias requires 2.9 V, which is 1.7 V less than the 4.6 V needed for the same experimental setup operating under reverse bias─with only a modest reduction in CO Faradaic efficiency (56 ± 6% vs 71 ± 6%).
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Energy storage

OpenAlex topics: CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts · Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada

Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, 2355 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada

Funding

National Research Council Canada · Canada Foundation for Innovation · Canada Research Chairs · Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada · Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

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