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O'Brien CP, Miao RK, Shayesteh Zeraati A, Lee G, Sargent EH, Sinton D. CO 2 Electrolyzers. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3648-3693. [PMID: 38518224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
CO2 electrolyzers have progressed rapidly in energy efficiency and catalyst selectivity toward valuable chemical feedstocks and fuels, such as syngas, ethylene, ethanol, and methane. However, each component within these complex systems influences the overall performance, and the further advances needed to realize commercialization will require an approach that considers the whole process, with the electrochemical cell at the center. Beyond the cell boundaries, the electrolyzer must integrate with upstream CO2 feeds and downstream separation processes in a way that minimizes overall product energy intensity and presents viable use cases. Here we begin by describing upstream CO2 sources, their energy intensities, and impurities. We then focus on the cell, the most common CO2 electrolyzer system architectures, and each component within these systems. We evaluate the energy savings and the feasibility of alternative approaches including integration with CO2 capture, direct conversion of flue gas and two-step conversion via carbon monoxide. We evaluate pathways that minimize downstream separations and produce concentrated streams compatible with existing sectors. Applying this comprehensive upstream-to-downstream approach, we highlight the most promising routes, and outlook, for electrochemical CO2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P O'Brien
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Rui Kai Miao
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Ali Shayesteh Zeraati
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Geonhui Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Edward H Sargent
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - David Sinton
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
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Pimlott DJD, Kim Y, Berlinguette CP. Reactive Carbon Capture Enables CO 2 Electrolysis with Liquid Feedstocks. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1007-1018. [PMID: 38526508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusThe electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is a promising strategy for mitigating global CO2 emissions while simultaneously yielding valuable chemicals and fuels, such as CO, HCOO-, and C2H4. This approach becomes especially appealing when integrated with surplus renewable electricity, as the ensuing production of fuels could facilitate the closure of the carbon cycle. Despite these advantages, the realization of industrial-scale electrolyzers fed with CO2 will be challenged by the substantial energy inputs required to isolate, pressurize, and purify CO2 prior to electrolysis.To address these challenges, we devised an electrolyzer capable of directly converting reactive carbon solutions (e.g., a bicarbonate-rich eluent that exits a carbon capture unit) into higher value products. This "reactive carbon electrolyzer" operates by reacting (bi)carbonate with acid generated within the electrolyzer to produce CO2 in situ, thereby facilitating CO2RR at the cathode. This approach eliminates the need for expensive CO2 recovery and compression steps, as the electrolyzer can then then coupled directly to the CO2 capture unit.This Account outlines our endeavors in developing this type of electrolyzer, focusing on the design and implementation of materials for electrocatalytic (bi)carbonate conversion. We highlight the necessity for a permeable cathode that allows the efficient transport of (bi)carbonate ions while maintaining a sufficiently high catalytic surface area. We address the importance of the supporting electrolyte, detailing how (bi)carbonate concentration, counter cations, and ionic impurities impact selectivity for products formed in the electrolyzer. We also catalog state-of-the-art performance metrics for reactive carbon electrolyzers (i.e., Faradaic efficiency, full cell voltage, CO2 utilization efficiency) and outline strategies to bridge the gap between these values and those required for commercial operation Collectively, these findings contribute to the ongoing efforts to realize industrial-scale electrochemical reactors for CO2 conversion, bringing us closer to a sustainable and closed-loop carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J D Pimlott
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Yongwook Kim
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Curtis P Berlinguette
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, 2355 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
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Cobb SJ, Dharani AM, Oliveira AR, Pereira IAC, Reisner E. Carboxysome-Inspired Electrocatalysis using Enzymes for the Reduction of CO 2 at Low Concentrations. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218782. [PMID: 37078435 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
The electrolysis of dilute CO2 streams suffers from low concentrations of dissolved substrate and its rapid depletion at the electrolyte-electrocatalyst interface. These limitations require first energy-intensive CO2 capture and concentration, before electrolyzers can achieve acceptable performances. For direct electrocatalytic CO2 reduction from low-concentration sources, we introduce a strategy that mimics the carboxysome in cyanobacteria by utilizing microcompartments with nanoconfined enzymes in a porous electrode. A carbonic anhydrase accelerates CO2 hydration kinetics and minimizes substrate depletion by making all dissolved carbon available for utilization, while a highly efficient formate dehydrogenase reduces CO2 cleanly to formate; down to even atmospheric concentrations of CO2 . This bio-inspired concept demonstrates that the carboxysome provides a viable blueprint for the reduction of low-concentration CO2 streams to chemicals by using all forms of dissolved carbon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Cobb
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Azim M Dharani
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Ana Rita Oliveira
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Inês A C Pereira
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Erwin Reisner
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
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Tobolovskaya Y, Medvedev JJ, Medvedeva XV, Mesbahuddin MS, Rodriguez NEN, Kalyaanamoorthy S, Klinkova A. The bovine carbonic anhydrase promoted dehydration of bicarbonate to CO2 for the electrochemical production of syngas. J CO2 UTIL 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2023.102461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
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Zaidi S, Srivastava N, Kumar Khare S. Microbial carbonic anhydrase mediated carbon capture, sequestration & utilization: A sustainable approach to delivering bio-renewables. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 365:128174. [PMID: 36283672 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the recent scenario, anthropogenic interventions have alarmingly disrupted climatic conditions. The persistent change in the climate necessitates carbon neutrality. Efficient ways of carbon capture and sequestration could be employed for sustainable product generation. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme that reversibly catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate ions, further utilized by cells for metabolic processes. Hence, utilizing CA from microbial sources for carbon sequestration and the corresponding delivery of bio-renewables could be the eco-friendly approach. Consequently, the microbial CA and amine-based carbon capture chemicals are synergistically applied to enhance carbon capture efficiency and eventual utilization. This review comprehends recent developments coupled with engineering techniques, especially in microbial CA, to create integrated systems for CO2 sequestration. It envisages developing sustainable approaches towards mitigating environmental CO2 from industries and fossil fuels to generate bio-renewables and other value-added chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saniya Zaidi
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Nitin Srivastava
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Khare
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
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