Effective perspiration is essential to uphold the stability of zero-gap MEA-based cathodes used in CO2 electrolysers

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388955%3A_____%2F23%3A00566622" target="_blank" >RIV/61388955:_____/23:00566622 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337941" target="_blank" >https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337941</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ta06965b" target="_blank" >10.1039/d2ta06965b</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Effective perspiration is essential to uphold the stability of zero-gap MEA-based cathodes used in CO2 electrolysers

Original language description

The application of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value-added products creates the possibility of achieving current densities of a few hundred mA cm(-2). To achieve stable operation at such high reaction rates remains, however, a challenging task, due to the flooding of the GDE. In order to mitigate flooding in a zero-gap membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) configuration, paths for effective electrolyte perspiration inside the GDE structure have to be kept open during the electrolysis process. Here we demonstrate that apart from the operational parameters of the electrolysis and the structural properties of the supporting gas diffusion layers, also the chemical composition of the applied catalyst inks can play a decisive role in the electrolyte management of GDEs used for CO2 electroreduction. In particular, the presence of excess amounts of polymeric capping agents (used to stabilize the catalyst nanoparticles) can lead to a blockage of micropores, which hinders perspiration and initiates the flooding of the microporous layer. Here we use a novel ICP-MS analysis-based approach to quantitatively monitor the amount of perspired electrolyte that exits a GDE-based CO2 electrolyser, and we show a direct correlation between the break-down of effective perspiration and the appearance of flooding-the latter ultimately leading to a loss of electrolyser stability. We recommend the use of an ultracentrifugation-based approach by which catalyst inks containing no excess amount of polymeric capping agents can be formulated. Using these inks, the stability of electrolyses can be ensured for much longer times.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10403 - Physical chemistry

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

ISSN

2050-7488

e-ISSN

2050-7496

Volume of the periodical

11

Issue of the periodical within the volume

10

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

5083-5094

UT code for WoS article

000897869500001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85144757062