Effects of Electrolyte Buffer Capacity on Surface Reactant Species and the Reaction Rate of CO₂ in Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction

In the aqueous electrochemical reduction of CO_2, the choice of electrolyte is responsible for the catalytic activity and selectivity, although there remains a need for more in-depth understanding of electrolyte effects and mechanisms. In this study, using both experimental and simulation approaches, we report how the buffer capacity of the electrolytes affects the kinetics and equilibrium of surface reactant species and resulting reaction rate of CO_2 with varying partial CO_2 pressure. Electrolytes investigated include KCl (non-buffered), KHCO3 (buffered by bicarbonate), and phosphate buffered electrolytes. Assuming 100% methane production, the simulation successfully explains the experimental trends of maximum CO_2 flux in KCl and KHCO_3, and also highlights the difference between KHCO_3 and phosphate in terms of pKa as well as the impact of buffer capacity. To examine the electrolyte impact on selectivity, the model is run with a constant total current density. Using this model, several factors are elucidated including the importance of local pH, which is not in acid/base equilibrium, the impact of buffer identity and kinetics, and the mass-transport boundary-layer thickness. The gained understanding can help optimize CO_2 reduction in aqueous environments.