Novel methods for the study of molten carbonate electrolytes

As the concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere continue to rise, methods for alleviation are desperately needed. Instead of a greenhouse gas, CO2 can also be a valuable resource, but this requires technology to split it up. Among the proposed technologies to split CO2 is its capture and electrochemical transformation in molten salts, which turns CO2 into solid carbon and gaseous oxygen. This project aims to further this technology by looking closely at the underlying processes via novel spectroelectrochemical methods. The proposed system will allow to study the effect of electrode materials, electrolytes and current programs to the process and the carbon materials produced. Smart utilization of molten salt electrolysis technology will allow us to not only directly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by capturing and transforming it, but also to limit future emissions by empowering CO2-free energy conversion devices such as batteries and fuel cells.