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Recent Technological Progress in CO 2 Electroreduction to Fuels and Energy Carriers in Aqueous Environments
Author(s) -
Bevilacqua Manuela,
Filippi Jonathan,
Miller Hamish A.,
Vizza Francesco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
energy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2194-4296
pISSN - 2194-4288
DOI - 10.1002/ente.201402166
Subject(s) - energy carrier , fossil fuel , hydrocarbon , energy storage , electrochemistry , carbon dioxide , carbon fibers , process engineering , hydrogen , electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide , environmental science , zero emission , waste management , nanotechnology , chemistry , materials science , engineering , carbon monoxide , organic chemistry , catalysis , electrode , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , composite number , composite material
Here we review recent developments and technological advances in the field of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels, energy carriers and precursors and other interesting building blocks for industrial applications. Synthetic hydrocarbon fuels derived from CO 2 /H 2 O are proposed as alternatives to hydrogen as an energy carrier that enables a carbon‐neutral energy cycle, given their inherent advantages of high H/C ratio and convenience of storage and transportation. The electrochemical reduction of CO 2 represents a feasible route for the direct generation of hydrocarbon fuels or their precursors (i.e., synthesis gas) using CO 2 /H 2 O. Such hydrocarbons fit well within the existing energy infrastructure because of their similarity to existing fossil fuels. Recently significant efforts are being devoted to the development of prototype systems, such as low‐ or high‐ temperature electrolyzers that operate as part of environmentally sustainable energy networks.