University of Liverpool — New EPSRC project to redesign electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction

The project is one of ten research projects announced today (Thursday, 31 March) by UKRI to support the development of disruptive, adventurous ideas for new materials, devices, fuels and technologies in support of the government’s ambition to achieve a net zero society by 2050.

Carbon dioxide is a waste molecule that is generated by many industries and processes. It can be converted to make energy rich fuels and products such as jet fuel, plastics, medicines but the most promising process to do this, called electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction, is currently too inefficient and costly. A major cause of this is that the process is carried out under conditions where most of the inputted carbon dioxide rapidly reacts with hydroxide in the device and becomes unavailable for conversion. This means that conversion yields are low and costs become high.

This new research project, led by Professor Alex Cowan, aims to assess the catalytic processes to designing new electrodes that work under acid conditions where the undesired side reaction is turned off. The project will then demonstrate these electrodes in a novel type of zero-gap bipolar membrane electrolyser to deliver novel, potentially viable, approach to carbon dioxide utilisation.

Professor Alexander Cowan, from the University of Liverpool’s Department of Chemistry and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, said: ​“Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction is one of the most promising ways to convert carbon dioxide to useful products and this project aims to improve this method. Read more