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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:36
Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Gradient Pore-Hydrophobicity Cooperation for Synergistic H2O/CO2 Management toward Efficient Acidic CO2
Jiping Sun1, Hong Zhang2, Zhixing Wang1,3
1School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha410083, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 27, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel gas diffusion layer design for acidic CO2 reduction, improving efficiency and selectivity. The gradient pore-hydrophobicity strategy enhances CO2 conversion while suppressing hydrogen evolution.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Acidic electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers efficient CO2 conversion but faces challenges with hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs).
- Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are critical for balancing gas (CO2) and liquid (H2O) transport in CO2RR systems.
- Overcoming the selectivity-stability trade-off in acidic CO2RR necessitates improved H2O/CO2 management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a synergistic H2O/CO2 management strategy for efficient acidic CO2RR.
- To investigate the impact of GDL architecture on CO2RR performance.
- To enhance CO2 conversion efficiency and selectivity in acidic media.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of GDLs with a gradient pore-hydrophobicity strategy.
- Electrochemical testing of Ag-GDEs at high current densities (up to 400 mA cm-2) in acidic media (pH = 2.0).
- In situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) and Lattice Boltzmann modeling simulations.
Main Results:
- Ag-GDEs achieved a 97.26% CO Faraday efficiency at 400 mA cm-2.
- The gradient pore-hydrophobicity GDL demonstrated effective synergistic H2O/CO2 management.
- In situ DEMS and modeling confirmed the GDL architecture's influence on mass transfer kinetics.
Conclusions:
- The proposed gradient pore-hydrophobicity GDL design is an effective approach for rational GDL design and collaborative liquid-gas management.
- This strategy enables efficient and selective acidic CO2RR, addressing key challenges in the field.
- The findings pave the way for developing advanced GDLs for industrial-level CO2 conversion.
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