CO2 Reduction Test Station

Overview

CO2 Reduction Test Stations (also referred to as CO2 conversion/reduction platforms) are integrated test environments for electrochemical CO2 reduction research and scale-up. They combine controlled CO2 delivery, humidification, electrolyte circulation, and pressure/temperature regulation so researchers can quantify performance, selectivity, and stability under realistic operating conditions. Systems are commonly configured for single-cell development as well as stack validation and scale-up.

Scientific basis (why the station matters)

CO2RR performance is highly sensitive to mass transport (gas flow and humidification), electrolyte composition/temperature, and differential pressure across the reactor. A purpose-built station stabilises these variables and supports consistent sampling/monitoring so data is comparable across catalysts, membranes, and operating strategies.

Key Features

Typical CO2 reduction test stations include:

• DC power (or load) suitable for single-cell and stack/high-current testing
• CO2 supply MFC and CO2 MFM for accurate gas delivery and measurement
• CO2 humidifier to control inlet gas humidity
• Electrolyte circulation system with flow control, liquid temperature control (heating/cooling), and gas–liquid separation
• Gas concentration sensing for CO, O2, and CO2
• Dryer + dewpoint monitoring for moisture management and repeatable analysis
• N2 auto purge and auto pressure control (up to 10 bar) for safer operation and stable differential pressure
• Automation control and monitoring software for repeatable test protocols

Platforms are available from ~300 W single-cell testing up to ~200 kW stack testing (model-dependent).

Applications

• Catalyst/material screening for CO2RR selectivity and stability (CO, syngas-oriented operation, etc.)
• Electrolyser and stack benchmarking (performance maps, durability protocols, stress testing)
• Balance-of-plant optimisation: humidification strategy, purge logic, pressure management
• Scale-up studies: repeatability across cell areas, manifolding effects, and system efficiency tracking
  
  

Integration & Compatibility

CO2 reduction stations typically integrate with upstream/downstream tools such as power supplies/loads, gas handling modules, and data acquisition, and can be paired with ScienceGears instrumentation and accessories including potentiostats, electrochemical-cells, and gas handling/measurement modules as needed.

Why Choose ScienceGears

ScienceGears supports Australian and New Zealand researchers with local technical guidance, commissioning support, and integration advice—helping labs move from benchtop CO2RR studies to repeatable, report-ready testing workflows.

FAQ Section

Q1. What does a CO2 reduction (CO2RR) test station do?
A CO2RR test station is an integrated platform that stabilises the key operating conditions needed to test CO2 electrolysers—gas flow, humidification, electrolyte circulation, temperature, and pressure. It also supports gas monitoring (e.g., CO, O2, CO2) and automation so you can run repeatable protocols and compare catalysts or cells with higher confidence.

Q2. What’s the difference between a single-cell and a stack CO2 reduction test station?
Single-cell stations are typically used for R&D and early validation, while stack stations support scale-up testing, higher current operation, and system-level evaluation. Scitech’s range includes single-cell testing starting around ~300 W and stack testing up to ~200 kW (depending on configuration), with common features like CO2 flow control, humidification, and automation.

Q3. Why are CO2 MFC/MFM and humidification important for CO2RR testing?
CO2RR outcomes depend strongly on how CO2 is delivered to the reactor. Mass flow control/measurement (MFC/MFM) provides stable, quantifiable CO2 supply, while humidification helps maintain consistent membrane hydration and reduces drift in performance during long tests. Together, they improve reproducibility and make it easier to compare results across experiments.

Q4. What monitoring and safety functions are typically included?
Common configurations include CO, O2, and CO2 concentration sensing, dryer/dewpoint monitoring, and automated N2 purge. Many systems also use automatic pressure control (up to 10 bar) to maintain stable operating conditions. These features help protect the equipment, improve data quality, and support unattended or long-duration operation.

Q5. Can these stations support temperature-controlled electrolyte circulation?
Yes. A core element is an electrolyte circulation system designed for flow control, liquid temperature control (heating/cooling), and gas–liquid separation. This is particularly valuable for long CO2RR tests where electrolyte temperature and gas management influence both selectivity and stability.

Closing Summary

CO2 reduction test stations enable reproducible CO2RR and CO2 electrolysis testing by combining controlled CO2 flow, humidification, electrolyte circulation, sensing, and automation. From single-cell R&D to stack-scale validation, these systems help generate stable, comparable datasets for publications and scale-up decisions. ScienceGears supports Australia and New Zealand labs with local guidance and integration support.