We reasoned that since overreac on in direct electrolysis reac ons primarily occurs at high conversion not at early stages of the electrolysis, we could separate reac ons into several cell-poten al regimes defined by the four CSTR stages (Figure )). This would allow us to maximize the rate early in the reac on when overreac on is compara vely slow. Subsequently, the cell poten al could be lowered in later stages when loss of selec vity is most likely. Cell poten als for each CSTR in the cascade were chosen based on this design principle.