Challenges of CO2 to Fuel Conversion.

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie are working on the clogging problem in CO2 electrolysis, which can convert the greenhouse gas into useful hydrocarbons. The process requires energy, water, suitable electrodes and special catalysts. The team is using a "zero-gap" electrolysis cell, which is particularly suitable for industrial processes, but the cathodes clog up quickly due to potassium crystals. The researchers are studying the process of crystal formation at the cathode in detail and plan to use X-rays to find out how ion migration in the cell affects the chemical reaction processes.