High‐Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer

Zhu, Wenjin [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000161203213); Chen, Qiu‐Cheng [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Chen, Yiqing [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Huang, Jianan Erick [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Su, Guangcan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Liu, Hengzhou [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Ni, Weiyan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Chen, Yuanjun [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Yu, Jiaqi [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Peng, Bosi [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Li, Jiantao [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Lee, Sungsik [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)]; Hao, Shaoyun [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Shen, Yuxia [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Ze, Huajie [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Zhou, Bei [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Li, Xiao‐Yan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Ji, Yali [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Yang, Shuang [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Tian, Cong [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Liang, Yongxiang [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Xie, Ke [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)]; Sargent, Edward H. [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000303966495)

doi:10.1002/anie.202517470

DOE OSTI · 3374600

High‐Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer

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Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide offers an electricity‐powered route to make multicarbon liquid products. However, in conventional systems employing anion exchange membranes (AEMs), significant liquid product crossover leads to dilute product streams, increasing separation costs; and also produces unwanted anodic oxidation, further decreasing overall efficiency. Here, we report a forward‐biased bipolar membrane (FB‐BPM) system that achieves <10% liquid product crossover while sustaining a highly alkaline environment near the cathode, suppressing ethylene and hydrogen and favoring liquid products. By tuning catalyst composition to modulate the adsorption of *H and *OH, we steer selectivity toward acetate and alcohols. Using the FB‐BPM system, we achieve >25 wt% acetate on CuZn and >15 wt% alcohols on CuSn directly from the cathode outlet stream.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY CO electroreduction Forward-biased bipolar membrane Highly concentrated alcohols production

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Zhu, Wenjin [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000161203213), Chen, Qiu‐Cheng [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Chen, Yiqing [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Huang, Jianan Erick [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Su, Guangcan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Liu, Hengzhou [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Ni, Weiyan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Chen, Yuanjun [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Yu, Jiaqi [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Peng, Bosi [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Li, Jiantao [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Lee, Sungsik [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)], Hao, Shaoyun [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Shen, Yuxia [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Ze, Huajie [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Zhou, Bei [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Li, Xiao‐Yan [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Ji, Yali [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Yang, Shuang [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Tian, Cong [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Liang, Yongxiang [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Xie, Ke [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)], Sargent, Edward H. [Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000303966495). 2025-11-18. High‐Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202517470

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