Effect of Humidity on C1, C2 Product Selectivity for CO2 Reduction in a Hybrid Gas/Liquid Electrochemical Reactor

Hybrid gas/liquid-fed electrochemical flow reactors may become attractive alternatives for chemical synthesis once it is understood how catalytic product selectivity may be optimized through the control of gas phase reactants. Using a constant pH basic electrolyte to suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction, we explore how protonation by water vapor added to the flowing CO2 supply affects the CO(2)reduction reaction. Although H2 remains the dominant product, supplying dry CO2 gas selectively produces more C-2 products than C-1. However, adding protons through water vapor changes selectivity toward C-1 products, increasing the overall faradaic efficiency of hydrocarbon production while reducing H-2 production.

Automated summary

This article investigates the use of hybrid gas/liquid-fed electrochemical flow reactors for chemical synthesis and how catalytic product selectivity can be optimized by controlling gas phase reactants. It is found that adding water vapor to the flowing CO2 supply can change the selectivity of the CO2 reduction reaction, increasing the overall faradaic efficiency of hydrocarbon production while reducing hydrogen gas production.