1
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Park EJ, Jannasch P, Miyatake K, Bae C, Noonan K, Fujimoto C, Holdcroft S, Varcoe JR, Henkensmeier D, Guiver MD, Kim YS. Aryl ether-free polymer electrolytes for electrochemical and energy devices. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:5704-5780. [PMID: 38666439 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00186e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Anion exchange polymers (AEPs) play a crucial role in green hydrogen production through anion exchange membrane water electrolysis. The chemical stability of AEPs is paramount for stable system operation in electrolysers and other electrochemical devices. Given the instability of aryl ether-containing AEPs under high pH conditions, recent research has focused on quaternized aryl ether-free variants. The primary goal of this review is to provide a greater depth of knowledge on the synthesis of aryl ether-free AEPs targeted for electrochemical devices. Synthetic pathways that yield polyaromatic AEPs include acid-catalysed polyhydroxyalkylation, metal-promoted coupling reactions, ionene synthesis via nucleophilic substitution, alkylation of polybenzimidazole, and Diels-Alder polymerization. Polyolefinic AEPs are prepared through addition polymerization, ring-opening metathesis, radiation grafting reactions, and anionic polymerization. Discussions cover structure-property-performance relationships of AEPs in fuel cells, redox flow batteries, and water and CO2 electrolysers, along with the current status of scale-up synthesis and commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Joo Park
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
| | | | - Kenji Miyatake
- University of Yamanashi, Kofu 400-8510, Japan
- Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Chulsung Bae
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Kevin Noonan
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Cy Fujimoto
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA
| | | | | | - Dirk Henkensmeier
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
- KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
- KU-KIST School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Michael D Guiver
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Yu Seung Kim
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
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2
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Fischer R, Dessiex MA, Marone F, Büchi FN. Gas-Induced Structural Damages in Forward-Bias Bipolar Membrane CO 2 Electrolysis Studied by Fast X-ray Tomography. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS 2024; 7:3590-3601. [PMID: 38756863 PMCID: PMC11094683 DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.3c02882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Forward-bias bipolar membrane (BPM) CO2 coelectrolysis (CO2ELY) aims at overcoming the issues of salt precipitation and CO2 crossover in anion exchange membrane CO2ELY. Increasing the stability of BPM-CO2ELY is crucial for widespread application of the technique. In this study, we employ time-resolved X-ray tomographic microscopy to elucidate the structural dynamics that occur within the electrochemical cell during operation under various conditions. Using advanced image processing methods, including custom 4D machine learning segmentation, we can visualize and quantify damages in the membrane and anode catalyst layer (CL). We compare our results to a CO2 transport model and hypothesize gaseous CO2 as the cause of the observed damages. At any operation condition, CO2 is formed at the junction in the center of the BPM by recombination of carbonate ions. CO2 migrates to the anode by diffusion and goes into the gas phase at the interface of the membrane and anode CL. After sufficient CO2 accumulation and pressure buildup after only tens of minutes, small irreversible holes break into the CL distributed over the entire active area. Additionally, at higher current densities, the CO2 accumulation leads to membrane delamination at the BPM junction. Despite the clear degradation processes, we do not observe an obvious direct effect on the electrochemical performance. The poor stability of BPM-CO2ELY remains an open question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Fischer
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Matthieu A. Dessiex
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Laboratory
of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Federica Marone
- Swiss
Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Felix N. Büchi
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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3
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Li G, Huang L, Wei C, Shen H, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Su J, Song Y, Guo W, Cao X, Tang BZ, Robert M, Ye R. Backbone Engineering of Polymeric Catalysts for High-Performance CO 2 Reduction in Bipolar Membrane Zero-Gap Electrolyzer. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202400414. [PMID: 38348904 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202400414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar membranes (BPMs) have emerged as a promising solution for mitigating CO2 losses, salt precipitation and high maintenance costs associated with the commonly used anion-exchange membrane electrode assembly for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, the industrial implementation of BPM-based zero-gap electrolyzer is hampered by the poor CO2RR performance, largely attributed to the local acidic environment. Here, we report a backbone engineering strategy to improve the CO2RR performance of molecular catalysts in BPM-based zero-gap electrolyzers by covalently grafting cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine onto a positively charged polyfluorene backbone (PF-CoTAPc). PF-CoTAPc shows a high acid tolerance in BPM electrode assembly (BPMEA), achieving a high FE of 82.6 % for CO at 100 mA/cm2 and a high CO2 utilization efficiency of 87.8 %. Notably, the CO2RR selectivity, carbon utilization efficiency and long-term stability of PF-CoTAPc in BPMEA outperform reported BPM systems. We attribute the enhancement to the stable cationic shield in the double layer and suppression of proton migration, ultimately inhibiting the undesired hydrogen evolution and improving the CO2RR selectivity. Techno-economic analysis shows the least energy consumption (957 kJ/mol) for the PF-CoTAPc catalyst in BPMEA. Our findings provide a viable strategy for designing efficient CO2RR catalysts in acidic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Libei Huang
- Division of Science, Engineering and Health Study, School of Professional Education and Executive Development, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU SPEED), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Chengpeng Wei
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Hanchen Shen
- Department of Chemistry and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Jianjun Su
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Yun Song
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Weihua Guo
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohu Cao
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- Department of Chemistry and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
- School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, P. R. China
| | - Marc Robert
- Université Paris Cité, Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Moléculaire, CNRS, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Ruquan Ye
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518057, P. R. China
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4
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Adisasmito S, Khoiruddin K, Sutrisna PD, Wenten IG, Siagian UWR. Bipolar Membrane Seawater Splitting for Hydrogen Production: A Review. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:14704-14727. [PMID: 38585051 PMCID: PMC10993265 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The growing demand for clean energy has spurred the quest for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Hydrogen has emerged as a promising candidate with its exceptional heating value and zero emissions upon combustion. However, conventional hydrogen production methods contribute to CO2 emissions, necessitating environmentally friendly alternatives. With its vast potential, seawater has garnered attention as a valuable resource for hydrogen production, especially in arid coastal regions with surplus renewable energy. Direct seawater electrolysis presents a viable option, although it faces challenges such as corrosion, competing reactions, and the presence of various impurities. To enhance the seawater electrolysis efficiency and overcome these challenges, researchers have turned to bipolar membranes (BPMs). These membranes create two distinct pH environments and selectively facilitate water dissociation by allowing the passage of protons and hydroxide ions, while acting as a barrier to cations and anions. Moreover, the presence of catalysts at the BPM junction or interface can further accelerate water dissociation. Alongside the thermodynamic potential, the efficiency of the system is significantly influenced by the water dissociation potential of BPMs. By exploiting these unique properties, BPMs offer a promising solution to improve the overall efficiency of seawater electrolysis processes. This paper reviews BPM electrolysis, including the water dissociation mechanism, recent advancements in BPM synthesis, and the challenges encountered in seawater electrolysis. Furthermore, it explores promising strategies to optimize the water dissociation reaction in BPMs, paving the way for sustainable hydrogen production from seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanggono Adisasmito
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi
Bandung (ITB), Jalan
Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Khoiruddin Khoiruddin
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi
Bandung (ITB), Jalan
Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Putu D. Sutrisna
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Surabaya
(UBAYA), Jalan Raya Kalirungkut (Tenggilis), Surabaya 60293, Indonesia
| | - I Gede Wenten
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi
Bandung (ITB), Jalan
Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Utjok W. R. Siagian
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Institut Teknologi
Bandung (ITB), Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
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5
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Pimlott DJD, Kim Y, Berlinguette CP. Reactive Carbon Capture Enables CO 2 Electrolysis with Liquid Feedstocks. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1007-1018. [PMID: 38526508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusThe electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) is a promising strategy for mitigating global CO2 emissions while simultaneously yielding valuable chemicals and fuels, such as CO, HCOO-, and C2H4. This approach becomes especially appealing when integrated with surplus renewable electricity, as the ensuing production of fuels could facilitate the closure of the carbon cycle. Despite these advantages, the realization of industrial-scale electrolyzers fed with CO2 will be challenged by the substantial energy inputs required to isolate, pressurize, and purify CO2 prior to electrolysis.To address these challenges, we devised an electrolyzer capable of directly converting reactive carbon solutions (e.g., a bicarbonate-rich eluent that exits a carbon capture unit) into higher value products. This "reactive carbon electrolyzer" operates by reacting (bi)carbonate with acid generated within the electrolyzer to produce CO2 in situ, thereby facilitating CO2RR at the cathode. This approach eliminates the need for expensive CO2 recovery and compression steps, as the electrolyzer can then then coupled directly to the CO2 capture unit.This Account outlines our endeavors in developing this type of electrolyzer, focusing on the design and implementation of materials for electrocatalytic (bi)carbonate conversion. We highlight the necessity for a permeable cathode that allows the efficient transport of (bi)carbonate ions while maintaining a sufficiently high catalytic surface area. We address the importance of the supporting electrolyte, detailing how (bi)carbonate concentration, counter cations, and ionic impurities impact selectivity for products formed in the electrolyzer. We also catalog state-of-the-art performance metrics for reactive carbon electrolyzers (i.e., Faradaic efficiency, full cell voltage, CO2 utilization efficiency) and outline strategies to bridge the gap between these values and those required for commercial operation Collectively, these findings contribute to the ongoing efforts to realize industrial-scale electrochemical reactors for CO2 conversion, bringing us closer to a sustainable and closed-loop carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J D Pimlott
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Yongwook Kim
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Curtis P Berlinguette
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, 2355 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), 661 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
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6
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Rios Amador I, Hannagan RT, Marin DH, Perryman JT, Rémy C, Hubert MA, Lindquist GA, Chen L, Stevens MB, Boettcher SW, Nielander AC, Jaramillo TF. Protocol for assembling and operating bipolar membrane water electrolyzers. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102606. [PMID: 37924520 PMCID: PMC10656253 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Renewable energy-driven bipolar membrane water electrolyzers (BPMWEs) are a promising technology for sustainable production of hydrogen from seawater and other impure water sources. Here, we present a protocol for assembling BPMWEs and operating them in a range of water feedstocks, including ultra-pure deionized water and seawater. We describe steps for membrane electrode assembly preparation, electrolyzer assembly, and electrochemical evaluation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Marin et al. (2023).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Rios Amador
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Ryan T Hannagan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Daniela H Marin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
| | - Joseph T Perryman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Charline Rémy
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - McKenzie A Hubert
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Grace A Lindquist
- University of Oregon Department of Chemistry and Oregon Center for Electrochemistry, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Lihaokun Chen
- University of Oregon Department of Chemistry and Oregon Center for Electrochemistry, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Michaela Burke Stevens
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Shannon W Boettcher
- University of Oregon Department of Chemistry and Oregon Center for Electrochemistry, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Adam C Nielander
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
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7
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Mehrabi H, Schichtl ZG, Conlin SK, Coridan RH. Modular Solar-to-Fuel Electrolysis at Low Cell Potentials Enabled by Glycerol Electrooxidation and a Bipolar Membrane Separator. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:44953-44961. [PMID: 37706500 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Solar fuel generation through water electrolysis or electrochemical CO2 reduction is thermodynamically limited when it is paired with oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GEOR) is an alternative anodic reaction with lower anodic electrochemical potential that utilizes a renewable coproduct produced during biodiesel synthesis. We show that GEOR on an Au-Pt-Bi ternary metal electrocatalyst in a model alkaline crude glycerol solution can provide significant cell potential reductions even when paired to reduction reactions in seawater and acidic catholytes via a bipolar membrane (BPM). We showed that the combination of GEOR and a BPM separator lowers the total cell potential by 1 V at an electrolysis current of 10.0 mA cm-2 versus an anode performing anode's OER when paired with hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction cathodes. The observed voltage reduction was steady for periods of up to 80 h, with minimal glycerol crossover observed through the membrane. These results motivate new, high-performance cell designs for photoelectrochemical solar fuel integrated systems based on glycerol electrooxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Mehrabi
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Zebulon G Schichtl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Samuel K Conlin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Robert H Coridan
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
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8
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Staerz AF, van Leeuwen M, Priamushko T, Saatkamp T, Endrődi B, Plankensteiner N, Jobbagy M, Pahlavan S, Blom MJW, Janáky C, Cherevko S, Vereecken PM. Effects of Iron Species on Low Temperature CO 2 Electrolyzers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023:e202306503. [PMID: 37466922 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical energy conversion devices are considered key in reducing CO2 emissions and significant efforts are being applied to accelerate device development. Unlike other technologies, low temperature electrolyzers have the ability to directly convert CO2 into a range of value-added chemicals. To make them commercially viable, however, device efficiency and durability must be increased. Although their design is similar to more mature water electrolyzers and fuel cells, new cell concepts and components are needed. Due to the complexity of the system, singular component optimization is common. As a result, the component interplay is often overlooked. The influence of Fe-species clearly shows that the cell must be considered holistically during optimization, to avoid future issues due to component interference or cross-contamination. Fe-impurities are ubiquitous, and their influence on single components is well-researched. The activity of non-noble anodes has been increased through the deliberate addition of iron. At the same time, however, Fe-species accelerate cathode and membrane degradation. Here, we interpret literature on single components to gain an understanding of how Fe-species influence low temperature CO2 electrolyzers holistically. The role of Fe-species serves to highlight the need for considerations regarding component interplay in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna F Staerz
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Micromolecular systems (M2S), cMACS, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marieke van Leeuwen
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Micromolecular systems (M2S), cMACS, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tatiana Priamushko
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11) Cauerstraße 1, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Torben Saatkamp
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Balázs Endrődi
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich sq. 1., 6720, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nina Plankensteiner
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Micromolecular systems (M2S), cMACS, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matias Jobbagy
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
| | - Sohrab Pahlavan
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Micromolecular systems (M2S), cMACS, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martijn J W Blom
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
| | - Csaba Janáky
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich sq. 1., 6720, Szeged, Hungary
- eChemicles Zrt., Alsó Kikötő sor 11, 6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Serhiy Cherevko
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11) Cauerstraße 1, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Philippe M Vereecken
- IMEC Leuven, Kapeldreef 75, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Micromolecular systems (M2S), cMACS, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Xu Z, Wan L, Liao Y, Pang M, Xu Q, Wang P, Wang B. Continuous ammonia electrosynthesis using physically interlocked bipolar membrane at 1000 mA cm -2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1619. [PMID: 36959179 PMCID: PMC10036611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37273-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrosynthesis of ammonia from nitrate reduction receives extensive attention recently for its relatively mild conditions and clean energy requirements, while most existed electrochemical strategies can only deliver a low yield rate and short duration for the lack of stable ion exchange membranes at high current density. Here, a bipolar membrane nitrate reduction process is proposed to achieve ionic balance, and increasing water dissociation sites is delivered by constructing a three-dimensional physically interlocked interface for the bipolar membrane. This design simultaneously boosts ionic transfer and interfacial stability compared to traditional ones, successfully reducing transmembrane voltage to 1.13 V at up to current density of 1000 mA cm-2. By combining a Co three-dimensional nanoarray cathode designed for large current and low concentration utilizations, a continuous and high yield bipolar membrane reactor for NH3 electrosynthesis realized a stable electrolysis at 1000 mA cm-2 for over 100 h, Faradaic efficiency of 86.2% and maximum yield rate of 68.4 mg h-1 cm-2 with merely 2000 ppm NO3- alkaline electrolyte. These results show promising potential for artificial nitrogen cycling in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziang Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiwen Liao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Maobin Pang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Peican Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Baoguo Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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10
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Patel SK, Pan W, Shin YU, Kamcev J, Elimelech M. Electrosorption Integrated with Bipolar Membrane Water Dissociation: A Coupled Approach to Chemical-free Boron Removal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4578-4590. [PMID: 36893399 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Boron removal from aqueous solutions has long persisted as a technological challenge, accounting for a disproportionately large fraction of the chemical and energy usage in seawater desalination and other industrial processes like lithium recovery. Here, we introduce a novel electrosorption-based boron removal technology with the capability to overcome the limitations of current state-of-the-art methods. Specifically, we incorporate a bipolar membrane (BPM) between a pair of porous carbon electrodes, demonstrating a synergized BPM-electrosorption process for the first time. The ion transport and charge transfer mechanisms of the BPM-electrosorption system are thoroughly investigated, confirming that water dissociation in the BPM is highly coupled with electrosorption of anions at the anode. We then demonstrate effective boron removal by the BPM-electrosorption system and verify that the mechanism for boron removal is electrosorption, as opposed to adsorption on the carbon electrodes or in the BPM. The effect of applied voltage on the boron removal performance is then evaluated, revealing that applied potentials above ∼1.0 V result in a decline in process efficiency due to the increased prevalence of detrimental Faradaic reactions at the anode. The BPM-electrosorption system is then directly compared with flow-through electrosorption, highlighting key advantages of the process with regard to boron sorption capacity and energy consumption. Overall, the BPM-electrosorption shows promising boron removal capability, with a sorption capacity >4.5 μmol g-C-1 and a corresponding specific energy consumption of <2.5 kWh g-B-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohum K Patel
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Weiyi Pan
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Yong-Uk Shin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Jovan Kamcev
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Menachem Elimelech
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
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11
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Herrero-Gonzalez M, López J, Virruso G, Cassaro C, Tamburini A, Cipollina A, Cortina JL, Ibañez R, Micale G. Analysis of Operational Parameters in Acid and Base Production Using an Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes Pilot Plant. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:200. [PMID: 36837703 PMCID: PMC9965870 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In agreement with the Water Framework Directive, Circular Economy and European Union (EU) Green Deal packages, the EU-funded WATER-MINING project aims to validate next-generation water resource solutions at the pre-commercial demonstration scale in order to provide water management and recovery of valuable materials from alternative sources. In the framework of the WATER-MINING project, desalination brines from the Lampedusa (Italy) seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant will be used to produce freshwater and recover valuable salts by integrating different technologies. In particular, electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM) will be used to produce chemicals (NaOH and HCl). A novel EDBM pilot plant (6.4 m2, FuMa-Tech) has been installed and operated. The performance of EDBM for single pass under different flowrates (2-8 L·min-1) for acid, base and saline channels, and two current densities (200 and 400 A·m-2), has been analyzed in terms of specific energy consumption (SEC) and current efficiency (CE). Results showed that by increasing the flowrates, generation of HCl and NaOH slightly increased. For example, ΔOH- shifted from 0.76 to 0.79 mol·min-1 when the flowrate increased from 2 to 7.5 L·min-1 at 200 A·m-2. Moreover, SEC decreased (1.18-1.05 kWh·kg-1) while CE increased (87.0-93.4%), achieving minimum (1.02 kWh·kg-1) and maximum (99.4%) values, respectively, at 6 L·min-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Herrero-Gonzalez
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Julio López
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-Barcelona TECH, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Cantabria, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Giovanni Virruso
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogero Cassaro
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tamburini
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- ResourSEAs SrL, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Cipollina
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Jose Luis Cortina
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-Barcelona TECH, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Cantabria, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Cantabria, Spain
- CETaqua, Carretera d’Esplugues, 75, 08940 Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Ibañez
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Giorgio Micale
- Dipartamento di Ingeniería, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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12
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Guo L, Zhang X, Gan L, Pan L, Shi C, Huang Z, Zhang X, Zou J. Advances in Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to Produce High-Value Chemicals. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205540. [PMID: 36480314 PMCID: PMC9896064 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The conversion of biomass is a favorable alternative to the fossil energy route to solve the energy crisis and environmental pollution. As one of the most versatile platform compounds, 5-hydroxymethylfural (HMF) can be transformed to various value-added chemicals via electrolysis combining with renewable energy. Here, the recent advances in electrochemical oxidation of HMF, from reaction mechanism to reactor design are reviewed. First, the reaction mechanism and pathway are summarized systematically. Second, the parameters easy to be ignored are emphasized and discussed. Then, the electrocatalysts are reviewed comprehensively for different products and the reactors are introduced. Finally, future efforts on exploring reaction mechanism, electrocatalysts, and reactor are prospected. This review provides a deeper understanding of mechanism for electrochemical oxidation of HMF, the design of electrocatalyst and reactor, which is expected to promote the economical and efficient electrochemical conversion of biomass for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Guo
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Xiaoxue Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Li Gan
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Lun Pan
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Chengxiang Shi
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Zhen‐Feng Huang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Xiangwen Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
| | - Ji‐Jun Zou
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of EducationSchool of Chemical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
- Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)Tianjin300072China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin UniversityNingboZhejiang315201China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical TransformationsTianjin300192China
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13
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Dinh HQ, Toh WL, Chu AT, Surendranath Y. Neutralization Short-Circuiting with Weak Electrolytes Erodes the Efficiency of Bipolar Membranes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:4001-4010. [PMID: 36633314 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c18685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar membranes (BPMs) are critical components of a variety of electrochemical energy technologies. Many electrochemical applications require the use of buffers to maintain stable, nonextreme pH environments, yet the impact of buffers or weak acids/bases on the electrochemical behavior of BPMs remains poorly understood. Our data for a cell containing weak electrolytes is consistent with internal pH gradients within the anion exchange membrane (AEM) or cation exchange membrane (CEM) component of the BPM that form via ionic short-circuiting processes at open-circuit. Short-circuiting results from the coupling of co-ion crossover and parasitic neutralization and leads to buffering of the bipolar interface. This phenomenon, which we term neutralization short-circuiting, serves to erode BPM efficiency by attenuating the open-circuit membrane voltage and introducing parasitic reverse bias currents associated with weak acid/base dissociation at the interface. These findings establish a mechanistic basis for the operation of BPM cells in the presence of weak acid/base electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieu Q Dinh
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - Wei Lun Toh
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - An T Chu
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - Yogesh Surendranath
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
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14
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Subramanian S, Yang K, Li M, Sassenburg M, Abdinejad M, Irtem E, Middelkoop J, Burdyny T. Geometric Catalyst Utilization in Zero-Gap CO 2 Electrolyzers. ACS ENERGY LETTERS 2023; 8:222-229. [PMID: 36660371 PMCID: PMC9841604 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.2c02194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) on silver catalysts has been demonstrated under elevated current density, longer reaction times, and intermittent operation. Maintaining performance requires that CO2 can access the entire geometric catalyst area, thus maximizing catalyst utilization. Here we probe the time-dependent factors impacting geometric catalyst utilization for CO2RR in a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly. We use three flow fields (serpentine, parallel, and interdigitated) as tools to disambiguate cell behavior. Cathode pressure drop is found to play the most critical role in maintaining catalyst utilization at all time scales by encouraging in-plane CO2 transport throughout the gas-diffusion layer (GDL) and around salt and water blockages. The serpentine flow channel with the highest pressure drop is then the most failure-resistant, achieving a CO partial current density of 205 mA/cm2 at 2.76 V. These findings are confirmed through selectivity measurements over time, double-layer capacitance measurements to estimate GDL flooding, and transport modeling of the spatial CO2 concentration.
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15
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Ion Rejection of pH-regulated Bipolar Nanopore of Various Shapes. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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16
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Snyder NA, Morales‐Guio CG. Perspective on the electrochemical recovery of phosphate from wastewater streams. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202200010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Snyder
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Carlos G. Morales‐Guio
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California Los Angeles California USA
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17
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Xu J, Zhong G, Li M, Zhao D, Sun Y, Hu X, Sun J, Li X, Zhu W, Li M, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Zheng C, Sun X. Review on electrochemical carbon dioxide capture and transformation with bipolar membranes. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2022.108075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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18
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León T, Abdullah Shah S, López J, Culcasi A, Jofre L, Cipollina A, Cortina JL, Tamburini A, Micale G. Electrodialysis with Bipolar Membranes for the Generation of NaOH and HCl Solutions from Brines: An Inter-Laboratory Evaluation of Thin and Ultrathin Non-Woven Cloth-Based Ion-Exchange Membranes. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1204. [PMID: 36557111 PMCID: PMC9786922 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The SEArcularMINE project aims to recover critical raw materials (CRMs) from brines from saltworks, thus facing a CRM shortage within Europe. To promote a fully circular scheme, the project valorises concentrated brines using electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM) to generate the required amounts of reactants (i.e., acids and bases). Regarding the performances of new non-woven cloth ion-exchange membranes (Suez): (i) an ultra-thin non-woven polyester cloth and (ii) a thin polypropylene cloth acting as the support structures were assessed. Additionally, the anion layer includes a catalyst to promote the water dissociation reaction. The effect of current density (100, 200, and 300 A m-2) on the performance of two combinations of membranes in an inter-laboratory exercise using 2 M NaCl was evaluated. According to statistical analysis ANOVA, there was an agreement on the results obtained in both laboratories. NaOH/HCl solutions up to 0.8 M were generated working at 300 A m-2 using both combinations of membranes. Regarding the performance parameters, stack set-ups incorporating thin polypropylene membranes showed lower specific energy consumption (SEC) and higher specific productivity (SP) than ultra-thin polypropylene ones. Hence, for ultra-thin polypropylene membranes, SEC was reported to be between 2.18 and 1.69 kWh kg-1NaOH and SP between 974 and 314 kg m-2 y-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara León
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Syed Abdullah Shah
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Julio López
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Culcasi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Lluis Jofre
- Department of Fluid Mechanics, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Cipollina
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - José Luis Cortina
- Chemical Engineering Department, Escola d’Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTECH, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Campus Diagonal-Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alessandro Tamburini
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Micale
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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19
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Song HB, Kang MS. Bipolar Membranes Containing Iron-Based Catalysts for Efficient Water-Splitting Electrodialysis. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1201. [PMID: 36557107 PMCID: PMC9786226 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Water-splitting electrodialysis (WSED) process using bipolar membranes (BPMs) is attracting attention as an eco-friendly and efficient electro-membrane process that can produce acids and bases from salt solutions. BPMs are a key component of the WSED process and should satisfy the requirements of high water-splitting capability, physicochemical stability, low membrane cost, etc. The water-splitting performance of BPMs can be determined by the catalytic materials introduced at the bipolar junction. Therefore, in this study, several kinds of iron metal compounds (i.e., Fe(OH)3, Fe(OH)3@Fe3O4, Fe(OH)2EDTA, and Fe3O4@ZIF-8) were prepared and the catalytic activities for water-splitting reactions in BPMs were systematically analyzed. In addition, the pore-filling method was applied to fabricate low-cost/high-performance BPMs, and the 50 μm-thick BPMs prepared on the basis of PE porous support showed several times superior toughness compared to Fumatech FBM membrane. Through various electrochemical analyses, it was proven that Fe(OH)2EDTA has the highest catalytic activity for water-splitting reactions and the best physical and electrochemical stabilities among the considered metal compounds. This is the result of stable complex formation between Fe and EDTA ligand, increase in hydrophilicity, and catalytic water-splitting reactions by weak acid and base groups included in EDTA as well as iron hydroxide. It was also confirmed that the hydrophilicity of the catalyst materials introduced to the bipolar junction plays a critical role in the water-splitting reactions of BPM.
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20
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Chen T, Bi J, Ji Z, Yuan J, Zhao Y. Application of bipolar membrane electrodialysis for simultaneous recovery of high-value acid/alkali from saline wastewater: An in-depth review. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 226:119274. [PMID: 36332296 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With the development of comprehensive utilization of high-salinity wastewater, salt resources regeneration has been considered as the fundamental requirement for process sustainability and economic benefits. As one of the potential candidates, bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) was rapidly developed in recent years for the treatment of saline wastewater. Different from other methods directly obtaining salts or condensed wastewater, BMED could utilize and convert the dissolved waste salt into higher-value acid and alkali simultaneously, which has various advantages including outstanding environmental effects and economic benefits. In this review, the recent applications of BMED for waste salt recovery and high-value acid/alkali generation from saline wastewater were systematically outlined. Based on the summary above, the economy analysis of BMED was further reviewed from the roles of desalination and resources recovery. In addition, the BMED-based processes integrated with in-situ utilization of the generated acid/alkali resources were discussed. Furthermore, the influence of operating factors on BMED performance were outlined. Finally, the strategies for improving BMED performance were concluded. Furthermore, the future application and prospects of BMED was presented. This work would provide guidance for the applications of bipolar membrane electrodialysis in saline wastewater treatment and the high-value conversion of salt resources into acids and alkalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Jingtao Bi
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Zhiyong Ji
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Junsheng Yuan
- Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Yingying Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization of Ministry of Education, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Marine Chemical Technology, No.8, Guangrong Road, Hongqiao District, Tianjin 300130, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemical Process Safety, Tianjin 300130, China
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21
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Wu D, Jiao F, Lu Q. Progress and Understanding of CO 2/CO Electroreduction in Flow Electrolyzers. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donghuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Feng Jiao
- Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Qi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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22
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Challenges and opportunities in continuous flow processes for electrochemically mediated carbon capture. iScience 2022; 25:105153. [PMID: 36204263 PMCID: PMC9529983 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon capture from both stationary emitters and dilute sources is critically needed to mitigate climate change. Carbon dioxide separation methods driven by electrochemical stimuli show promise to sidestep the high-energy penalty and fossil-fuel dependency associated with the conventional pressure and temperature swings. Compared with a batch process, electrochemically mediated carbon capture (EMCC) operating in a continuous flow mode offers greater design flexibility. Therefore, this review introduces key advances in continuous flow EMCC for point source, air, and ocean carbon captures. Notably, the main challenges and future research opportunities for practical implementation of continuous flow EMCC processes are discussed from a multi-scale perspective, from molecules to electrochemical cells and finally to separation systems.
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23
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Powers D, Mondal AN, Yang Z, Wycisk R, Kreidler E, Pintauro PN. Freestanding Bipolar Membranes with an Electrospun Junction for High Current Density Water Splitting. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:36092-36104. [PMID: 35904491 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c07680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Freestanding bipolar membranes (BPMs) with an extended-area water splitting junction were fabricated utilizing electrospinning. The junction layer was composed of a mixed fiber mat that was made by concurrently electrospinning sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and quaternized poly(phenylene oxide) (QPPO), with water splitting catalyst nanoparticles intermittently deposited between the fibers. The mat was sandwiched between solution cast SPEEK and QPPO films and hot-pressed to form a dense trilayer BPM with an extended-area junction of finite thickness, composed of QPPO nanofibers embedded in a SPEEK matrix with the catalyst nanoparticles interspaced between the two polymers. The composition, ion-exchange capacity, and catalyst type/loading in the junction were varied, and the water splitting characteristics of the membranes were assessed. The best BPMs fabricated in this work employed a graphene oxide catalyst and exhibited a low trans-membrane voltage drop of about 0.82 V at 1000 mA/cm2 in water splitting experiments with 0.5 M Na2SO4 and stable water splitting operation for 60 h at 800 mA/cm2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Powers
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Abhishek N Mondal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Zezhou Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ryszard Wycisk
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Eric Kreidler
- Honda R&D Americas, LLC, Raymond, Ohio 43067, United States
| | - Peter N Pintauro
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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24
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Wu L, Zhang C, Kim S, Hatton TA, Mo H, Waite TD. Lithium recovery using electrochemical technologies: Advances and challenges. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118822. [PMID: 35834973 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Driven by the electric-vehicle revolution, a sharp increase in lithium (Li) demand as a result of the need to produce Li-ion batteries is expected in coming years. To enable a sustainable Li supply, there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods to extract Li from a variety of sources including Li-rich salt-lake brines, seawater, and wastewaters. While the prevalent lime soda evaporation method is suitable for the mass extraction of Li from brine sources with low Mg/Li ratios, it is time-consuming (>1 year) and typically exhibits low Li recovery. Electrochemically-based methods have emerged as promising processes to recover Li given their ease of management, limited requirement for additional chemicals, minimal waste production, and high selectivity towards Li. This state-of-the-art review provides a comprehensive overview of current advances in two key electrochemical Li recovery technologies (electrosorption and electrodialysis) with particular attention given to advances in understanding of mechanism, materials, operational modes, and system configurations. We highlight the most pressing challenges these technologies encounter including (i) limited electrode capacity, poor electrode stability and co-insertion of impurity cations in the electrosorption process, and (ii) limited Li selectivity of available ion exchange membranes, ion leakage and membrane scaling in the electrodialysis process. We then systematically describe potentially effective strategies to overcome these challenges and, further, provide future perspectives, particularly with respect to the translation of innovation at bench-scale to industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Changyong Zhang
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Seoni Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - T Alan Hatton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Hengliang Mo
- Beijing Origin Water Membrane Technology Company Limited, Huairou, Beijing 101400, PR China
| | - T David Waite
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; UNSW Centre for Transformational Environmental Technologies, Yixing, Jiangsu Province 214206, PR China.
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25
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Potential of montmorillonite nanoclay as water dissociation catalyst at the interface of bipolar membrane. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Gutiérrez-Sánchez O, de Mot B, Bulut M, Pant D, Breugelmans T. Engineering Aspects for the Design of a Bicarbonate Zero-Gap Flow Electrolyzer for the Conversion of CO 2 to Formate. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:30760-30771. [PMID: 35764406 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c05457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
CO2 electrolyzers require gaseous CO2 or saturated CO2 solutions to achieve high energy efficiency (EE) in flow reactors. However, CO2 capture and delivery to electrolyzers are in most cases responsible for the inefficiency of the technology. Recently, bicarbonate zero-gap flow electrolyzers have proven to convert CO2 directly from bicarbonate solutions, thus mimicking a CO2 capture medium, obtaining high Faradaic efficiency (FE) and partial current density (CD) toward carbon products. However, since bicarbonate electrolyzers use a bipolar membrane (BPM) as a separator, the cell voltage (VCell) is high, and the system becomes less efficient compared to analogous CO2 electrolyzers. Due to the role of the bicarbonate both as a carbon donor and proton donor (in contrast to gas-fed CO2 electrolyzers), optimization by using know-how from conventional gas-fed CO2 electrolyzers is not valid. In this study, we have investigated how different engineering aspects, widely studied for upscaling gas-fed CO2 electrolyzers, influence the performance of bicarbonate zero-gap flow electrolyzers when converting CO2 to formate. The temperature, flow rate, and concentration of the electrolyte are evaluated in terms of FE, productivity, VCell, and EE in a broad range of current densities (10-400 mA cm-2). A CD of 50 mA cm-2, room temperature, high flow rate (5 mL cm-2) of the electrolyte, and high carbon load (KHCO3 3 M) are proposed as potentially optimal parameters to benchmark a design to achieve the highest EE (27% is obtained this way), one of the most important criteria when upscaling and evaluating carbon capture and conversion technologies. On the other hand, at high CD (>300 mA cm-2), low flow rate (0.5 mL cm-2) has the highest interest for downstream processing (>40 g L-1 formate is obtained this way) at the cost of a low EE (<10%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Gutiérrez-Sánchez
- Research Group Applied Electrochemistry and Catalysis (ELCAT), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Bert de Mot
- Research Group Applied Electrochemistry and Catalysis (ELCAT), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Metin Bulut
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium
| | - Deepak Pant
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium
- Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Tom Breugelmans
- Research Group Applied Electrochemistry and Catalysis (ELCAT), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
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27
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Bleeker J, Reichert S, Veerman J, Vermaas DA. Thermo-electrochemical redox flow cycle for continuous conversion of low-grade waste heat to power. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7993. [PMID: 35568713 PMCID: PMC9107487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11817-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we assess the route to convert low grade waste heat (< 100 °C) into electricity by leveraging the temperature dependency of redox potentials, similar to the Seebeck effect in semiconductor physics. We use fluid-based redox-active species, which can be easily heated and cooled using heat exchangers. By using a first principles approach, we designed a redox flow battery system with Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64− and I−/I3− chemistry. We evaluate the continuous operation with one flow cell at high temperature and one at low temperature. We show that the most sensitive parameter, the temperature coefficient of the redox reaction, can be controlled via the redox chemistry, the reaction quotient and solvent additives, and we present the highest temperature coefficient for this RFB chemistry. A power density of 0.6 W/m2 and stable operation for 2 h are achieved experimentally. We predict high (close to Carnot) heat-to-power efficiencies if challenges in the heat recuperation and Ohmic resistance are overcome, and the temperature coefficient is further increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorrit Bleeker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Stijn Reichert
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Veerman
- REDstack BV, Graaf Adolfstraat 35-G, 8606 BT, Sneek, The Netherlands
| | - David A Vermaas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.
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28
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Bui JC, Lees EW, Pant LM, Zenyuk IV, Bell AT, Weber AZ. Continuum Modeling of Porous Electrodes for Electrochemical Synthesis. Chem Rev 2022; 122:11022-11084. [PMID: 35507321 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical synthesis possesses substantial promise to utilize renewable energy sources to power the conversion of abundant feedstocks to value-added commodity chemicals and fuels. Of the potential system architectures for these processes, only systems employing 3-D structured porous electrodes have the capacity to achieve the high rates of conversion necessary for industrial scale. However, the phenomena and environments in these systems are not well understood and are challenging to probe experimentally. Fortunately, continuum modeling is well-suited to rationalize the observed behavior in electrochemical synthesis, as well as to ultimately provide recommendations for guiding the design of next-generation devices and components. In this review, we begin by presenting an historical review of modeling of porous electrode systems, with the aim of showing how past knowledge of macroscale modeling can contribute to the rising challenge of electrochemical synthesis. We then present a detailed overview of the governing physics and assumptions required to simulate porous electrode systems for electrochemical synthesis. Leveraging the developed understanding of porous-electrode theory, we survey and discuss the present literature reports on simulating multiscale phenomena in porous electrodes in order to demonstrate their relevance to understanding and improving the performance of devices for electrochemical synthesis. Lastly, we provide our perspectives regarding future directions in the development of models that can most accurately describe and predict the performance of such devices and discuss the best potential applications of future models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C Bui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Eric W Lees
- Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lalit M Pant
- Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, India
| | - Iryna V Zenyuk
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Alexis T Bell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adam Z Weber
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Yan H, Peng K, Yan J, Jiang C, Wang Y, Feng H, Yang Z, Wu L, Xu T. Bipolar membrane-assisted reverse electrodialysis for high power density energy conversion via acid-base neutralization. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Blommaert M, Subramanian S, Yang K, Smith WA, Vermaas DA. High Indirect Energy Consumption in AEM-Based CO 2 Electrolyzers Demonstrates the Potential of Bipolar Membranes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:557-563. [PMID: 34928594 PMCID: PMC8762646 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c16513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Typically, anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are used in CO2 electrolyzers, but those suffer from unwanted CO2 crossover, implying (indirect) energy consumption for generating an excess of CO2 feed and purification of the KOH anolyte. As an alternative, bipolar membranes (BPMs) have been suggested, which mitigate the reactant loss by dissociating water albeit requiring a higher cell voltage when operating at a near-neutral pH. Here, we assess the direct and indirect energy consumption required to produce CO in a membrane electrode assembly with BPMs or AEMs. More than 2/3 of the energy consumption for AEM-based cells concerns CO2 crossover and electrolyte refining. While the BPM-based cell had a high stability and almost no CO2 loss, the Faradaic efficiency to CO was low, making the energy requirement per mol of CO higher than for the AEM-based cell. Improving the cathode-BPM interface should be the future focus to make BPMs relevant to CO2 electrolyzers.
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31
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Yang K, Li M, Subramanian S, Blommaert MA, Smith WA, Burdyny T. Cation-Driven Increases of CO 2 Utilization in a Bipolar Membrane Electrode Assembly for CO 2 Electrolysis. ACS ENERGY LETTERS 2021; 6:4291-4298. [PMID: 34917770 PMCID: PMC8669632 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.1c02058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Advancing reaction rates for electrochemical CO2 reduction in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have boosted the promise of the technology while exposing new shortcomings. Among these is the maximum utilization of CO2, which is capped at 50% (CO as targeted product) due to unwanted homogeneous reactions. Using bipolar membranes in an MEA (BPMEA) has the capability of preventing parasitic CO2 losses, but their promise is dampened by poor CO2 activity and selectivity. In this work, we enable a 3-fold increase in the CO2 reduction selectivity of a BPMEA system by promoting alkali cation (K+) concentrations on the catalyst's surface, achieving a CO Faradaic efficiency of 68%. When compared to an anion exchange membrane, the cation-infused bipolar membrane (BPM) system shows a 5-fold reduction in CO2 loss at similar current densities, while breaking the 50% CO2 utilization mark. The work provides a combined cation and BPM strategy for overcoming CO2 utilization issues in CO2 electrolyzers.
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