Carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide transfer optimized by researchers

In Illinois, researchers have found a way to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using an ionic liquid as a co-catalyst, reducing the amount of electrical energy required.  A research team at the University of Illinois worked with researchers at Dioxide Materials, using an electrochemical cell as a flow reactor, which separated the oxygen output and CO2 input from a liquid electrolyte catalyst, using gas-diffusion electrodes.

This allowed the researchers to fine-tune the composition of the electrolyte stream.  This allowed the team to better reaction kinetics, including adding the ionic liquids as a co-catalyst.  The next step will be to work on maximizing conversion and speeding up the reaction.