Turning captured carbon into useful chemicals – and watching reactions at electrode surfaces

During her PhD studies, Lin Li investigated how bicarbonate, a carbon-containing species formed during carbon capture, can be converted into useful chemicals using electricity. This approach decreases the need for producing a separate stream of gaseous CO₂ feedstock. Lin Li studied the influence of the reaction environment near the electrode on the formation of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and multi-carbon products. Her research showed that the balance between bicarbonate and CO₂ plays an important role in controlling product formation. She also used in situ infrared spectroscopy to study chemical species and water structures near electrode surfaces during electrochemical reactions. The findings provide a basis for designing bicarbonate electrolysis systems connected to carbon capture.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 13:00
Place: Building 1514, room 213, Aud I, Department of Chemistry, Langelandsgade 140, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Electrochemical Bicarbonate Conversion and In Situ ATR-Based Infrared Spectroscopy
Contact information: Lin Li, e-mail: au744963@uni.au.dk, tel.: +45 71519108
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Roberto Gobetto, Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Italy
Associate Professor Torben Lund, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
Professor Marianne Glasius (chair), Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Kim Daasbjerg, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Steen Uttrup Pedersen, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C