In the first two years of the project, ECOMATES has made substantial progress in advancing electrochemical technologies for the conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals. The scientific work has focused on the design of advanced catalysts and membranes, the development of predictive computational tools, operando characterization, and the fabrication of functional electrochemical devices. A central achievement has been the synthesis and testing of copper-based bimetallic catalysts, modified with secondary metals such as zinc, tin, and silver. These materials were produced using controlled techniques including atomic layer deposition, solvothermal synthesis, and electrodeposition. The catalysts were integrated into gas diffusion electrodes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and evaluated for their selectivity toward products such as formate, carbon monoxide, and ethylene. Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 95% for CO2 conversion were achieved in some cases. In parallel, the project developed computational models based on density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) to predict the binding energies and stability of various catalyst configurations. These tools guided experimental efforts and supported the identification of promising compositions such as Cu–Al alloys. To support in-depth catalyst analysis, synchrotron-based X-ray characterization techniques — including operando spectroscopy and imaging — were introduced. In addition, innovative gas diffusion electrodes and ion-exchange membranes were developed, with the aim to maximize the efficiency of the novel catalysts in MEA configuration. A custom-designed electrochemical cell was developed for beamline compatibility, allowing in situ monitoring of catalyst behavior. Finally, ECOMATES progressed in assembling lab-scale electrolyzer prototypes, which are currently being tested to assess stability, efficiency, and scalability. A key development is the fabrication of a three-compartment electrolyzer, specifically designed for high-purity liquid product generation. This device was guided by computational simulations and technoeconomic analysis and has demonstrated robust performance under relevant conditions. These efforts have laid a strong foundation for the next phase of the project, which will focus on catalyst refinement, long-term performance testing, and scaling up device integration.
