High-Performance and Cost-Effective Zwitterionic Membrane for Enhanced Electrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction

Membranes play a central role in determining both the efficiency and selectivity of the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). Progress in developing novel membranes for CO₂RR has been hindered by the widespread use of off-the-shelf commercial membranes. However, there is an urgent and necessary demand to invent high-performance membranes tailored for CO₂RR and investigate the mechanisms by which they enhance performance. Here, we prepared a high-performance and cost-effective zwitterionic membrane, OQHTCC-90/PVA. Compared with commercial membranes, the OQHTCC-90/PVA zwitterionic membrane exhibits high anionic conductivity owing to its strong adsorption energy toward hydroxide ions. Consequently, an H-type cell assembled with OQHTCC-90/PVA zwitterionic membrane delivers the highest Faradaic efficiency (FE) toward CO₂RR products, outperforming that of commercial membranes. Notably, OQHTCC-90/PVA zwitterionic membrane displays exceptional alkaline stability, superior durability, and remarkable reusability, making it a cost-effective option for CO₂RR operations. This work not only develops a high-performance zwitterionic membrane but also highlights the importance of tailored membrane design for advancing CO₂RR.