Temperature impact on zero-gap CO2 electrolyzers

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2> Zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers are commonly used in electrochemical CO₂ reduction due to their high energy efficiency. While previous research has predominantly focused on catalyst development and membrane electrode and device design, temperature—a critical factor with the potential for significant impact on electrochemical CO₂ reduction—has been relatively overlooked. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a study using copper and silver as representative electrocatalysts to comprehensively examine the influence of temperature on zero-gap MEA CO₂ electrolyzers. Our investigation involved assessing selectivity, activity, and stability across a range of temperature conditions (30°C–70°C). We observed that the device efficiency consistently improves with rising temperature and that optimal reaction temperatures vary for different catalysts and products. Furthermore, temperature impacts the water balance of the system, with a moderate temperature increase proving beneficial for stability. These findings enhance the understanding of temperature effects in electrochemical CO₂ reduction and offer valuable insights for advancing CO₂ reduction technologies.