Methanol Synthesis from CO₂ and H₂O Using a Solid Phosphate Electrolyzer at 240 °C and 28 Bar

It has been demonstrated that it is possible to produce methanol in one step in reasonable amounts by electrolysis of CO₂ and H₂O gasses dissolved under 28 bar and at 240 °C in contact with an electrolyte consisting of solid CsH₂PO₄ with additions of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) acting as a binder. The cathode was designed as a sandwich with a layer of a copper methanol catalyst and a porous platinum electrode. The anode consisted of porous ruthenium metal covered by a layer of RuO₂. The system was operated with current densities of up to ca. 100 mA cm⁻² with a voltage of less than 2 volts producing methanol with a Faradaic efficiency of up to ca. 7%. There seems to be nothing against recirculating the rest of reactant gases to improve the conversion. The question is of course whether the present approach can compete with a more traditional conversion starting with electrochemical produced hydrogen.