Long-term electrochemical CO₂ reduction via electrode regeneration.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis
• Materials Science

Background:

• Electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2RR) converts waste carbon into valuable products using renewable electricity.
• Industrial application of eCO2RR is limited by electrode durability under high-rate operation.
• Performance degradation involves complex interactions like catalyst issues, poisoning, flooding, and salt precipitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline dominant electrode-level degradation pathways in eCO2RR.
• To critically assess regeneration strategies for restoring performance without electrode replacement.
• To establish regeneration as a design standard for durable CO2 electrolysis systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of electrode degradation mechanisms.
• Review of various regeneration techniques including redox-based reactivation, hydrophobicity recovery, and local-environment reset protocols.
• Assessment of strategies to prevent salt buildup and electrolyte flooding.

Main Results:

• Identified multiple interacting failure modes that limit eCO2RR performance.
• Demonstrated that regeneration strategies can effectively restore catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability.
• Highlighted the importance of addressing gas transport and local environment issues.

Conclusions:

• Regeneration is crucial for overcoming durability challenges in eCO2RR.
• Integrated regeneration approaches are essential for long-term, stable CO2 electrolysis.
• This work supports the development of sustainable CO2 utilization technologies compatible with renewable energy sources.