{
  "abstract": "Low-temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis (CO 2 E) provides a low-carbon-emission pathway to basic chemical products. While anion exchange membrane (AEM)-based CO 2 E can provide high selectivity towards carbon products, runtimes are far below industry requirements. Flooding is a major obstacle to long-term stability as it limits CO 2 access to the catalyst layer, but the reasons for continuous water fluxes to the cathode are poorly understood. Here we present a model-aided experimental analysis of the driving forces for flooding. By tracking high-frequency resistance, anolyte conductivity, and cathode water accumulation over 24-hour runtimes across a range of current densities, temperatures and anolyte concentrations, we reveal AEM ion gradients as the main driving force for both flooding and cation-crowding at the cathode catalyst. We then show how ion gradient management can maintain steady CO selectivity and increase maximum CO 2 E partial current densities, with temperatures acting as a primary factor in reducing ion gradients. Using these insights, we demonstrate stable CO production at 500 mA cm -2 on an ionomer-free Ag catalyst.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Henri M. Pelzer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Boris D. Wortmann"
    },
    {
      "name": "Samarinda M. de Heer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eva Looijestein"
    },
    {
      "name": "David A. Vermaas"
    },
    {
      "name": "Thomas Burdyny"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qft35bffkdrm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010385/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9qft35bffkdrm",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010385/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2105|CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221700063",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010385/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-13",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qft35bffkdrm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010385",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010385/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "source:chemrxiv",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Ion Gradients Drive Flooding in Membrane-Electrode Assembly CO2 Electrolyzers",
  "title_text": "Ion Gradients Drive Flooding in Membrane-Electrode Assembly CO2 Electrolyzers",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qft35bffkdrm",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}