Low‐Temperature CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction using Mg–Ga Liquid Metal Interface
Linlin Ye, Nitu Syed, Dingqi Wang, Jining Guo, Jianing Yang, Joshua Buston, Ranjeet Singh, Masood S. Alivand, Gang Kevin Li, Ali Zavabeti
Abstract
Abstract The need for effective and adaptive technologies for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) mitigation targeting global net‐zero carbon emissions is critically growing. Hence, innovative technologies for CO 2 reduction have attracted worldwide interest from scientific research communities. The use of liquid metals for the conversion of CO 2 into carbon or solid carbonaceous products has gained increasing attention in recent years due to their high activity and resistance to coking. Here, a facile approach for the reduction of CO 2 to solid carbon using liquid Mg at and near room temperature, and atmospheric pressure is presented. In this process, magnesium (Mg) plays a major role in driving the dissociation of CO 2 to its elemental constituents, carbon and oxygen. During the reaction process, Mg ions dissolve in gallium (Ga) liquid metal alloy, diffuse to the gas–liquid interface, and reduce CO 2 to carbon while undergoing an oxidation reaction. The electrochemical method ensures a sustainable cyclic process by reducing Mg and Ga ions back to their metallic counterpart. The use of liquid metal alloys for CO 2 reduction reactions can enable to achieve CO 2 capture and storage at room temperature, setting a new foundation for the future exploration of efficient CO 2 mitigation issues.