A Novel Low Voltage Plasma Reactor Using Carbon Fibre Electrodes for CO<sub>2</sub> Splitting with O<sub>2</sub>-Free Products

POSTER

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have intensified the natural greenhouse effect, leading to global warming. Among the strategies to mitigate this issue, CO2 splitting using plasma technologies faces challenges such as high voltage requirements, low efficiency, and costly separation processes due to oxygen (O2) by-products. In this study, we present a novel low voltage plasma reactor using carbon fibre electrodes for CO2 splitting with O2-free products. Operating at a voltage of just 80 V, this reactor significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the overall system. We achieved a CO2 conversion rate of 17.6%, with an energy cost of 17 eV per molecule, demonstrating superior overall performance. Notably, no O2 by-products were detected, thus eliminating the need for expensive separation processes. We believe that, with further optimization, this reactor holds significant industrial potential and could contribute to reducing the greenhouse effect.

*This work was funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund of Hong Kong Governmen (Environmental Research, Technology Demonstration and Conference Projects; Project No. 26/2022) and partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (PolyU15209324 for GRF project funded in 2024/25 Exercise).

Publication: Planned paper: Low voltage driven CO2 splitting plasma reactor with carbon fibre electrodes to remove O2 from the product stream.

Presenters

  • Jingjie Ye

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

Authors

  • Jingjie Ye

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Yang Liu

    • Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Dingchen Li

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Chuanlong Ma

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Chakhung Yeung

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Yaping Du

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

  • Xiangen Zhao

    • Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China