Electrochemical reduction of CO2 in solid oxide electrolysis cells

Abstract

The effort on electrochemical reduction of CO2 to useful chemicals using the renewable energy to drive the process is growing fast recently. In this review, we introduce the recent progresses on the electrochemical reduction of CO2 in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). At high temperature, only CO is produced with high current densities and Faradic efficiency while the reactor is complicated and a better sealing technique is urgently needed. The typical electrolytes such as zirconia-based oxides, ceria-based oxides and lanthanum gallates-based oxides, anodes and cathodes are introduced in this review, and the cathode materials, such as conventional metal–ceramics (cermets), mixed ionic and electronic conductors (MIECs) are discussed in detail. In the future, to gain more value-added products, the electrolyte, cathode and anode materials should be developed to allow SOECs to be operated at temperature range of 573–873K. At those temperatures, SOECs may combine the advantages of the low temperature system and the high temperature system to produce various products with high current densities.