Research targets for upcycling of CO2 to formate and carbon monoxide with paired electrolysis

Formate Over‐Oxidation Limits Industrialization of Glycerol Oxidation Paired with Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Formate

“…A prerequisite for industrial feasibility of such paired electrolysis process is to achieve product streams with significant concentrations of formate to enable feasible downstream separation of formate. [15] However, none of the reports on nickel-catalyzed glycerol oxidation for formate production address this issue. For the reduction of CO 2 to formate, concentrations up to 3.4 M (15 wt.%) are reported.…”

“…The process of paired glycerol oxidation and CO 2 reduction has a potential 75 % increased formate production capacity per cell area compared to an ‘unpaired’ CO 2 reduction process, assuming full efficiency for cathodic and anodic reactions. A prerequisite for industrial feasibility of such paired electrolysis process is to achieve product streams with significant concentrations of formate to enable feasible downstream separation of formate [15] . However, none of the reports on nickel‐catalyzed glycerol oxidation for formate production address this issue.…”

A Tin Oxide‐Coated Copper Foam Hybridized with a Gas Diffusion Electrode for Efficient CO2 Reduction to Formate with a Current Density Exceeding 1 A cm−2

“…The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is regarded as an attractive strategy for closing the carbon cycle by converting CO 2 to fuels and value‐added chemicals using renewable electricity. [ 1–4 ] Formate, which is a two‐electron reduction product of the CO 2 RR, is an important chemical intermediate in many industrial processes, such as the production of pharmaceuticals and rubber, and is also a promising storage material for liquid hydrogen. [ 5–7 ] For practical implementation of the CO 2 RR, a high current density for the production of formate ( J formate ) is required because the partial current density is directly correlated with the capital cost of the electrodes.…”

“…[ 8–11 ] The partial current density is determined by multiplying the selectivity and total current density, implying that high‐rate electrolysis of CO 2 and a high faradaic efficiency (FE) for formate should be simultaneously achieved to ensure a high J formate . [ 4,6,8,12 ]…”

“…[8][9][10][11] The partial current density is determined by multiplying the selectivity and total current density, implying that high-rate electrolysis of CO 2 and a high faradaic efficiency (FE) for formate should be simultaneously achieved to ensure a high J formate . [4,6,8,12] p-Block metals, such as Bi and Sn, have been widely studied as promising selective electrocatalysts for reducing CO 2 to formate because of their low cost, high earth abundance, and high selectivity. [7,[12][13][14][15][16] In particular, Sn-based electrocatalysts have been reported to effectively suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which competes with CO 2 electroreduction under a range of operating potentials because of their weak interaction with H atoms.…”