A flow cell for reducing carbon dioxide may include a first chamber having a gold coated gas diffusion layer working electrode, a reference electrode, and a water-in-salt electrolyte comprising a super concentrated aqueous solution of lithium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). A second chamber adjacent the first chamber has a gold coated gas diffusion layer counter electrode and the water-in-salt electrolyte. The second chamber being separated from the first chamber by a proton exchange membrane. A reservoir coupled to each of the first and the second chambers with a pump contains a volume of the water-in-salt electrolyte and a head space.