Electrode and cell design for CO2 reduction: A viewpoint

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is a crucial technology to develop the decarbonisation strategy for circularity and producing solar fuels substituting fossil fuels. This viewpoint discusses role electrode reactor design as main factor in determining performance CO2RR, at least under reaction conditions relevant industrial scalability, evidencing need overturn current strategic vision focused more on improving characteristics materials. Many parameters characterising performances (such Faradaic efficiency, selectivity potential onset, besides density) are strongly influenced typically dominated (under conditions) by effective population adspecies surface, which is, turn, related mass control transport resistances, local pH changes, multiphase boundaries, wettability other aspects. Even preliminary screening catalysts could be incorrect, not operating representative conditions, thus without properly choosing reactor. Advanced electrode/reactor designs, e.g., based gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) that avoid having liquid electrolyte (zero-gap design), necessary improve CO2RR scalability applications. situ catalyst nanoparticle reconstruction may depend these Electrochemical characterization methods like electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) right approach study reactions, providing indications controlling elements determine electrocatalyst/electrode performances.