A comprehensive modeling for the CO ₂ electroreduction to CO

Abstract

In the research for the decarbonization processes, electrochemistry is among the most studied routes for the conversion of carbon dioxide in added-value products, thanks to the up-scalability and the mild conditions of work of the technology. In this framework, modeling the electrochemical reactor is a powerful tool to predict and optimize important features of the electroreduction. In this study, we propose a comprehensive modeling for the whole electrochemical reactor, which has been validated through the experiments with good agreement. In particular, the performance of the cell is studied as a function of the voltage applied, for different sizes of the reactor. Furthermore, the model has been used to study the chemical conditions at the cathode surface, as well as electrochemical conditions at different applied biases and flow rates of the electrolyte.