Liquid metal cathodes for electrolysis of metal carbonates in molten salts

Abstract

An electrolytic cell includes a liquid metal cathode, an anode, and a molten salt electrolyte in contact with the liquid metal cathode and the anode. The molten salt electrolyte includes carbonate ions, and the electrolytic cell is configured to reduce the carbonate ions at the surface of the cathode or in the vicinity of the cathode to yield a carbon material and oxide ions. Producing a carbon material in the electrolytic cell includes providing carbonate ions to the electrolytic cell, reducing the carbonate ions at the liquid metal cathode to yield the carbon material, and removing the carbon material from the electrolytic cell.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.