Techno-Economically Viable, Rapid, and Scalable Sonochemical Synthesis of AgCl Nanocubes for CO2 Electroreduction

초록

The economic viability of the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction relies not only on efficient catalytic performance but also on the scalability and cost-efficiency of catalyst production. Herein, a rapid and scalable sonochemical synthesis of AgCl nanocubes (AgCl NCs), featuring efficient manufacturability, high CO selectivity, and long-term stability is reported. In a membrane electrode assembly, AgCl NC maintained exceptionally high CO Faradaic efficiencies (>95%) during 200 h of continuous operation. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) revealed that the outstanding performance of AgCl NC, coupled with its cost- and time-efficient synthesis, significantly lowered the levelized catalyst cost by 40% and the CO production cost by nearly 50% relative to conventional Ag nanoparticle systems. By linking catalyst production directly to system-level TEA outcomes, this study highlights manufacturability as a key yet often overlooked criterion in catalyst design and positions AgCl NC as a promising platform for industrial-scale application.

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