Three-phase electrochemistry for green ethylene production

Abstract

The electrochemical conversion of greenhouse gases (mainly CO2 and CH4) into ethylene has attracted worldwide attention. Compared with thermal cracking and dehydrogenation ethylene production processes, electrochemical ethylene production is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly process with high atom and energy economies. Great efforts have been made in enhancing the performance of electrochemical COx reduction and alkane dehydrogenation reactions in recent years. The complicated interactions between gas reactants, electrolytes, and catalysts force the three-phase interface mass transfer process an important issue in determining the electrochemical activity and product selectivity. Herein, we summarize the recent progresses on electrochemical ethylene production. Special attention has been paid to the principles for the design of gas–liquid–solid and gas–solid–solid three-phase interfaces and their influence on the electrochemical COx reduction and alkane dehydrogenation reactions. The comprehensive understanding of those different ethylene production reactions together from the perspective of the three-phase interface-related mass transfer process would provide new insights into the design of advanced electrochemical cells for green ethylene production.