(Invited) Electrolysis for Sustainable Ethylene at Dioxycle

Industrial emitters are responsible for more than a third of global emissions. The central mission at Dioxycle is to divert industrial carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere and instead transform them into ethylene. Ethylene has a growing annual demand currently in excess of 150 Mton globally, corresponding to a $170 bn market, and is used in a wide range of consumer goods including fabrics, plastics, and construction materials. Electrified chemical manufacturing is a natural choice for generating sustainable products, but the biggest challenges to its widespread adoption include scalability of production and cost competitivity with fossil-based alternatives. A key difference between academia and industry is the critical focus on the factors that most directly influence the cost of the ultimate product. For electrified chemical manufacturing, this translates to voltage and long-term stability. For example, in a two-electron process such as water electrolysis, an overpotential of 1 V (total voltage 2.23 V) adds an additional 26.6 kWh or roughly $4 to the price of H 2 per kg. For comparison, nonrenewable H 2 produced from steam methane reforming can be sold for $1/kg H 2 . Additionally, electrochemical production must scale rapidly to meaningfully compete with their fossil-based alternatives. For a startup in particular, development and research targets must always have these considerations at the forefront and be able to adapt quickly to the latest results. While there are many challenges ahead, the growth of this field and the partnerships between academia and industry will be crucial to achieving our climate goals.