Electrolysis of carbon dioxide to solid carbon using a liquid metal cathode

A process for producing solid carbon and gaseous oxygen from CO2 via electrolysis using an electrolysis apparatus having a chamber with an electrolyte inlet, an electrolyte outlet, a pool of a liquid electrolyte containing CO2 in the chamber, at least one cathode-anode pair in the electrolyte pool, with the cathode including a pool of a liquid metal capable of catalysing reduction of CO2 to solid carbon with the liquid metal pool having a depth of 1-50 mm, the process including maintaining a pressure of 0-50 barg in the chamber, supplying the electrolyte at a temperature up to 200° C. to the chamber via the inlet and discharging the electrolyte from the chamber via the outlet, with the electrolyte flowing from the inlet to the outlet in fluid communication with the cathode-anode pair, applying a voltage in a range of 1 to 10 volts between the cathode-anode pair and causing solid carbon to form on the cathode from CO2 in the electrolyte and gaseous oxygen to be evolved at the anode from CO2 in the electrolyte, and discharging solid carbon by transporting solid carbon from the cathode in the electrolyte to the electrolyte outlet and from the chamber via the outlet, and discharging gaseous oxygen from the chamber via a gas outlet.