Pulse check: Potential opportunities in pulsed electrochemical CO2 reduction

Developing affordable, robust, and selective CO2 electroreduction technologies is crucial to address concerns about rising CO2 emissions. Pulsed potential electrochemical CO2 reduction (p-eCO2R) has emerged as a simple and responsive knob to increase electrolyzer durability and improve product selectivity. In this review, we summarize the recent findings of p-eCO2R on copper electrodes as a function of applied potential and pulse duration. We discuss how pulse methods present scientific and technological opportunities for electrochemical technologies beyond p-eCO2R, in particular, ones involving competing reactions or electrode deactivation.

Automated summary

Research has shown that pulsed potential electrochemical CO2 reduction is crucial in increasing electrolyzer durability and product selectivity, providing scientific and technological opportunities for electrochemical technologies beyond CO2 reduction.