Bridging fundamental science and applied science to accelerate CO2 electrolyzer scale-up

Abstract

CO2 electrolysis coupled with renewable energy is an attractive option to decarbonize the chemical manufacturing sector. To accelerate the deployment of a commercially viable electrolyzer, there remains a need to de-risk scaling electrolyzers from the laboratory scale to industrially relevant conditions. An opportunity exists for the low-temperature CO2 electrolysis community can translate novel cell configurations and practices from adjacent fields to bridge the gap between fundamental sciences, and scaling a CO2 electrolyzer in geometric size, performance, and durability. Employing closed research loops that incorporate system-level analysis, continuum and atomistic modeling, and advanced characterization techniques can accelerate the rapid deployment of a CO2 electrolyzer.