(98h) Continuous Carbon Capture Via Oxygen/Water Electrolysis in a Modular Solidelectrolyte Reactor

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture from diffuse sources is essential for migrating global CO₂ emissions and promoting downstream CO₂ utilization and storage. Electrochemical carbon capture technology utilizing redox-active carriers, such as quinones system and pH swing methods has emerged as versatile and more economical alternatives compared to traditional chemical scrubbing. However, the practicality of such systems suffers the requirement of toxic and flammable organic electrolytes, additional downstream septation process, etc., which make it complicated and challenging for decentralized carbon captures. Herein, we demonstrate a different carbon capture design, by coupling the O₂/H₂O electrolysis with our porous solid electrolyte (PSE) reactor, for a continuous and modular CO₂ capture-release from a wide range of CO₂ sources with industrial-relevant capture rate. No chemical inputs were needed, nor side products generated during the whole carbon absorption/release process. Industrially relevant carbon capture rates (440 mA cm^-2, 0.14 mmol_CO2 min^-1 cm^-2 or 90 kg_CO2 day^-1 m^-2), high Faradaic efficiencies (> 90% based on carbonate), and low energy consumptions (starting from ~ 150 kJ/mol_CO2) were demonstrated in our carbon capture solid electrolyte reactor, suggesting its promising practical applications. Also, by tuning and optimizing various parameters of the reactor, we achieve continuous carbon capture-release with outstanding capacity, stability, and over 98% carbon removal efficiency under simulated flue gas. The economic applicability is further improved by facilitating different redox-couples to tuning the reaction pathway, and corresponding tech-economic analysis prove the proves its value to meet the needs of actual industrialization.