Due to human activities, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is increasing, leading to concerns about the accelerated greenhouse effect and global warming. To address these environmental issues, various technologies have been developed to utilize CO2.
Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an attractive technology that converts CO2 into value-added products using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs)-based membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are widely used for industrial applications of CO2RR.
In a GDE, the catalyst layer (CL) plays a crucial role in the catalytic reaction. However, the ink-based methods used to prepare CLs often result in an uneven distribution of ionomer, which affects the transport of ions and CO2.
Therefore, optimizing the spatial distribution of ionomer is essential for promoting mass transfer and enhancing catalytic performance. In addition to adjusting solvent polarity and improving catalyst-ionomer interaction, there is a need to develop a more proactive and controllable approach to optimize ionomer distribution for practical CO2RR systems.
To tackle this challenge, the Energy and Catalysis Adventure Team, led by Professor Jinlong Gong from Tianjin University, has developed an ionomer pre-confinement method. This method involves introducing ionomer during the synthetic process of electrocatalyst to form an ionomer-confined electrocatalyst for GDE construction. This approach ensures a uniform distribution of ionomer, thereby resolving mass transfer issues caused by its accumulation.
By optimizing the distribution of ionomer in GDEs, ion transport within the CL is promoted. Ions generated at the reaction sites can be efficiently transferred to the anode. Additionally, the spatially uniform ionomer prevents high local mass transfer resistance caused by ionomer accumulation, leading to enhanced CO2 transport and improved catalytic performance.
As a result of this optimization, the GDEs demonstrate a relatively low cell voltage and a high CO Faradaic efficiency even at high current densities. The electrode also exhibits stable catalysis over an extended period. This study provides valuable insights for the optimal design of GDEs and paves the way for practical applications of CO2RR.
More information:
Xiaowei Du et al, Confinement of ionomer for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction via efficient mass transfer pathways, National Science Review (2023). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad149
Citation:
Building efficient mass transfer pathways for electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (2023, July 24)
retrieved 24 July 2023
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