Dual-Function Electrolyzer
CO2 to DMM
Pairs CO2 reduction with methanol oxidation to co-produce dimethoxymethane in a single electrolyzer with over 100% Faradaic efficiency.
Ma, Jingui · Zean, Liu · Mengxuan, Kuang · Yuhong, Lai · Yu, Chen · Quan, Shi · Liu, Yansheng · Hou, Junwei · Liu, Jian
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 2027
Specifications
- Combined Faradaic efficiency (cathode + anode)
- {'zh': '111.47', 'en': '111.47'} %
- Stable operation time
- {'zh': '8', 'en': '8'} h
- Stable operation time
- {'zh': '24', 'en': '24'} h
- Carbon intensity
- {'zh': '0.279', 'en': '0.279'} kg CO2e per kg DMM
Advantages
No need to pre-make methyl formate
Direct reduction of formic acid is the major source of cathodic formaldehyde, so the previously assumed need for methyl formate reduction is largely bypassed.
One cell, two electrodes producing
Both cathode and anode independently generate formaldehyde that condenses with methanol into DMM, giving a combined Faradaic efficiency of 111.47%—more than one product molecule per electron.
Scales to 25 cm² cell
Beyond proof-of-concept scale: it operates stably for 24 h at a total current of 300 mA in a 25 cm² flow cell, demonstrating robustness at a practical reactor size.
Carbon intensity cut to 1/7
With renewable electricity and green methanol, the carbon intensity is 0.279 kg CO₂e per kg DMM, versus 2.07 for the conventional route—an 86% reduction.
Applications
- CO2 electroreduction：Uses CO₂ as a carbon feedstock to produce DMM, with formic acid as co-product, replacing fossil-based routes.
- organic electrosynthesis：Pairs cathodic and anodic reactions toward the same target product, lifting electron utilization above 100%.
- electrolyzer：Demonstrates continuous operation in a flow cell for 24 h, providing reactor engineering data for scale-up.
- green chemicals：With green electricity and methanol, carbon footprint drops to one-seventh of the conventional process.
- Cu–Sn foam cathode：The Cu–Sn foam cathode drives the CO₂-to-formate-to-formaldehyde reduction pathway, making it a key component.