A Rice University team developed a method using acid-humidified CO₂ to prevent salt accumulation that disrupts gas flow in electrochemical systems converting carbon dioxide into fuels. This approach extended device lifetime by over 50-fold, achieving more than 4,500 hours of stable operation. The advance addresses a major challenge inhibiting commercialization of CO₂ reduction technologies by mitigating potassium bicarbonate salt precipitation that compromises efficiency and durability of reactors.