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Porous membranes enable selective and stable zero-gap acidic CO2 electrolysers
Shilei Wei1, Hang Hua1, Yuxuan Zhao1
1Institute of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Materials and Cells, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Solar Energy, Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Photoelectronic Technology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
A novel porous membrane (PM) in acidic electrolysers overcomes CO2 loss and instability issues seen in other systems. This enables efficient, stable, and scalable carbon dioxide electrolysis for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) CO2 electrolysers offer high efficiency but suffer from carbonate transport issues in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), limiting carbon utilization.
- Acidic anolyte electrolysers using cation exchange membranes (CEMs) address CO2 loss but face stability challenges like hydrogen evolution and salt precipitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a porous membrane (PM) as a stable alternative to CEMs in acidic anolyte CO2 electrolysers.
- To evaluate the performance and stability of PM-based acidic electrolysers for efficient CO2 conversion.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and integration of a porous membrane (PM) into an acidic anolyte MEA CO2 electrolyser.
- Electrochemical performance testing at a current density of 100 mA cm-2 for 200 hours.
- Analysis of operational mechanisms, including water permeation and ion transfer.
Main Results:
- Continuous operation for 200 hours at 100 mA cm-2 achieved without salt precipitation.
- Maintained nearly 100% CO selectivity, demonstrating high carbon utilization efficiency.
- Stable performance was confirmed in a large-scale device (100 cm2).
Conclusions:
- Porous membranes offer a viable solution for stable and efficient acidic anolyte CO2 electrolysis.
- Enhanced water permeation and bidirectional ion transfer are key mechanisms for improved stability.
- The developed system presents a feasible approach for high-performance, scalable CO2 electrolysers.
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