Temperature impact on zero-gap CO2 electrolyzers

Zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers are commonly used in electrochemical CO 2 reduction due to their high energy efficiency. While previous research has predominantly focused on catalyst development and membrane electrode and device design, temperature—a critical factor with the potential for significant impact on electrochemical CO 2 reduction—has been relatively overlooked. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a study using copper and silver as representative electrocatalysts to comprehensively examine the influence of temperature on zero-gap MEA CO 2 electrolyzers. Our investigation involved assessing selectivity, activity, and stability across a range of temperature conditions (30°C–70°C). We observed that the device efficiency consistently improves with rising temperature and that optimal reaction temperatures vary for different catalysts and products. Furthermore, temperature impacts the water balance of the system, with a moderate temperature increase proving beneficial for stability. These findings enhance the understanding of temperature effects in electrochemical CO 2 reduction and offer valuable insights for advancing CO 2 reduction technologies.