Molten-salt breakthrough turns CO2 into battery-grade graphite for EVs

Berkeley Lab researchers captured real-time conversion of carbon dioxide into solid carbon inside a 500°C molten-salt electrolysis cell, revealing a two-stage process where CO2 first forms an intermediate before depositing as crystalline carbon on the cathode; by tweaking salt chemistry and electrode materials they can steer the carbon’s structure toward battery-grade graphite, though industrial scaling will require resolving energy, materials, and gas-flow challenges.