Temperature-and potential-induced exfoliation of electrochemically produced solid carbon from CO2 on a Ce:GaInSn electrode
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Resource-efficient carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere will require the development of new materials for processes beyond carbon capture and utilisation. One high-potential pathway for such negative emission technologies is the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to storable products such as graphitic carbon. Although this can be achieved by employing an electrode made of cerium particles in a liquid gallium-indium-tin matrix, this electrocatalytic pathway currently suffers from comparatively low faradaic efficiencies (FE). In this work, we investigate the temperature dependence of electrochemical CO 2 -reduction to solid carbon on this liquid-metal. An increase in temperature of up to 50 ◦ C leads to significantly higher FEs. A variation of applied potentials leads to a temperature-dependent exfoliation of the product. Moreover, a change in the morphology of the solid carbon product species, from carbon black-like particles, over graphitic flakes to fibers can be induced by varying the operating conditions. From a practical standpoint, the temperature range, we find for optimum FE, lies in the range that can be achieved through thermal coupling with photovoltaic solar cells, suggesting co-benefits of photovoltaics-driven, electrochemical carbon dioxide removal.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7208720814