Solid-state polymers are promising electrolytes for CO2 electrolysers, but when pure water is used as the feed, they typically cannot create a sufficiently alkaline environment to favour multicarbon products. Here the authors use bifunctional ionomers as polymer electrolytes that activate CO2 at the catalyst–electrolyte interface, favouring ethylene synthesis, while running on pure water.
- Wenzheng Li
- Zhenglei Yin
- Lin Zhuang
