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High‐Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar...
Journal article

High‐Concentration Alcohol Generation in Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer

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.

Authors

Zhu W; Chen Q; Chen Y; Huang JE; Su G; Liu H; Ni W; Chen Y; Yu J; Peng B

Journal

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 65, No. 3,

Publisher

Wiley

Publication Date

January 16, 2026

DOI

10.1002/anie.202517470

ISSN

1433-7851

Labels

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

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