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Heßelmann M, Lee JK, Chae S, Tricker A, Keller RG, Wessling M, Su J, Kushner D, Weber AZ, Peng X. Pure-Water-Fed Forward-Bias Bipolar Membrane CO 2 Electrolyzer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:24649-24659. [PMID: 38711294 PMCID: PMC11103649 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Coupling renewable electricity to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) electrochemically into carbon feedstocks offers a promising pathway to produce chemical fuels sustainably. While there has been success in developing materials and theory for CO2 reduction, the widespread deployment of CO2 electrolyzers has been hindered by challenges in the reactor design and operational stability due to CO2 crossover and (bi)carbonate salt precipitation. Herein, we design asymmetrical bipolar membranes assembled into a zero-gap CO2 electrolyzer fed with pure water, solving both challenges. By investigating and optimizing the anion-exchange-layer thickness, cathode differential pressure, and cell temperature, the forward-bias bipolar membrane CO2 electrolyzer achieves a CO faradic efficiency over 80% with a partial current density over 200 mA cm-2 at less than 3.0 V with negligible CO2 crossover. In addition, this electrolyzer achieves 0.61 and 2.1 mV h-1 decay rates at 150 and 300 mA cm-2 for 200 and 100 h, respectively. Postmortem analysis indicates that the deterioration of catalyst/polymer-electrolyte interfaces resulted from catalyst structural change, and ionomer degradation at reductive potential shows the decay mechanism. All these results point to the future research direction and show a promising pathway to deploy CO2 electrolyzers at scale for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Heßelmann
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Chemical
Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jason Keonhag Lee
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Sudong Chae
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Andrew Tricker
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Robert Gregor Keller
- Chemical
Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Wessling
- Chemical
Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- DWI
Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ji Su
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Douglas Kushner
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adam Z. Weber
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Xiong Peng
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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2
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Khoiruddin K, Wenten IG, Siagian UWR. Advancements in Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis Techniques for Carbon Capture. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:9362-9384. [PMID: 38680122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) is a promising technology for the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from seawater, offering a sustainable solution to combat climate change. BMED efficiently extracts CO2 while generating valuable byproducts like hydrogen and minerals, contributing to the carbon cycle. The technology relies on ion-exchange membranes and electric fields for efficient ion separation and concentration. Recent advancements focus on enhancing water dissociation in bipolar membranes (BPMs) to improve efficiency and durability. BMED has applications in desalination, electrodialysis, water splitting, acid/base production, and CO2 capture and utilization. Despite the high efficiency, scalability, and environmental friendliness, challenges such as energy consumption and membrane costs exist. Recent innovations include novel BPM designs, catalyst integration, and exploring direct air/ocean capture. Research and development efforts are crucial to unlocking BMED's full potential in reducing carbon emissions and addressing environmental issues. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in BMED, emphasizing its role in carbon capture and sustainable environmental solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Khoiruddin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
- Research Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - I G Wenten
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
- Research Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Utjok W R Siagian
- Research Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa No. 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
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3
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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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4
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Yan T, Chen X, Kumari L, Lin J, Li M, Fan Q, Chi H, Meyer TJ, Zhang S, Ma X. Multiscale CO 2 Electrocatalysis to C 2+ Products: Reaction Mechanisms, Catalyst Design, and Device Fabrication. Chem Rev 2023; 123:10530-10583. [PMID: 37589482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals, directly from CO2, could foster achievement of carbon neutral through an alternative electrical approach to the energy-intensive thermochemical industry for carbon utilization. Progress in this area, based on electrogeneration of multicarbon products through CO2 electroreduction, however, lags far behind that for C1 products. Reaction routes are complicated and kinetics are slow with scale up to the high levels required for commercialization, posing significant problems. In this review, we identify and summarize state-of-art progress in multicarbon synthesis with a multiscale perspective and discuss current hurdles to be resolved for multicarbon generation from CO2 reduction including atomistic mechanisms, nanoscale electrocatalysts, microscale electrodes, and macroscale electrolyzers with guidelines for future research. The review ends with a cross-scale perspective that links discrepancies between different approaches with extensions to performance and stability issues that arise from extensions to an industrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiang Yan
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Lata Kumari
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jianlong Lin
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Minglu Li
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Qun Fan
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Haoyuan Chi
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Thomas J Meyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xinbin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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5
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Kumar De S, Won DI, Kim J, Kim DH. Integrated CO 2 capture and electrochemical upgradation: the underpinning mechanism and techno-chemical analysis. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:5744-5802. [PMID: 37539619 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00512c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Coupling post-combustion CO2 capture with electrochemical utilization (CCU) is a quantum leap in renewable energy science since it eliminates the cost and energy involved in the transport and storage of CO2. However, the major challenges involved in industrial scale implementation are selecting an appropriate solvent/electrolyte for CO2 capture, modeling an appropriate infrastructure by coupling an electrolyser with a CO2 point source and a separator to isolate CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) products, and finally selection of an appropriate electrocatalyst. In this review, we highlight the major difficulties with detailed mechanistic interpretation in each step, to find out the underpinning mechanism involved in the integration of electrochemical CCU to achieve higher-value products. In the past decades, most of the studies dealt with individual parts of the integration process, i.e., either selecting a solvent for CO2 capture, designing an electrocatalyst, or choosing an ideal electrolyte. In this context, it is important to note that solvents such as monoethanolamine, bicarbonate, and ionic liquids are often used as electrolytes in CO2 capture media. Therefore, it is essential to fabricate a cost-effective electrolyser that should function as a reversible binder with CO2 and an electron pool capable of recovering the solvent to electrolyte reversibly. For example, reversible ionic liquids, which are non-ionic in their normal forms, but produce ionic forms after CO2 capture, can be further reverted back to their original non-ionic forms after CO2 release with almost 100% efficiency through the chemical or thermal modulations. This review also sheds light on a focused techno-economic evolution for converting the electrochemically integrated CCU process from a pilot-scale project to industrial-scale implementation. In brief, this review article will summarize a state-of-the-art argumentation of challenges and outcomes over the different segments involved in electrochemically integrated CCU to stimulate urgent progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandip Kumar De
- Department of Chemistry, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, 402, Ankleshwar - Valia Rd, Vataria, Gujarat 393135, India
| | - Dong-Il Won
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Jeongwon Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Dong Ha Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea.
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6
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Cai P, Chen K, Lu Z, Mondal R, Thotiyl MO, Wen Z. Aqueous OH - /H + Dual-Ion Zn-Based Batteries. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202201034. [PMID: 35859294 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202201034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous Zn-based batteries hold multiple advantages of eco-friendliness, easy accessibility, high safety, easy fabrication, and fast kinetics, while their widespread applications have been greatly limited by the relatively narrow thermodynamically stable potential windows (i. e., 1.23 V) of water and the mismatched pH conditions between cathode and anode, which presents challenges regarding how to maximize the output voltage and the energy density. Recently, aqueous OH- /H+ dual-ion Zn-based batteries (OH- /H+ -DIZBs), where the Zn anode reacts with hydroxide ions (OH- ) in alkaline electrolyte while hydrogen ions (H+ ) are involved in the cathode reaction in the acidic electrolyte, have been reported to be capable of broadening the working voltage and improving the energy density, which offers practical feasibility toward overcoming the above limitations. This Review thus takes this chance to investigate the recent progress on aqueous OH- /H+ -DIZBs. First, the concept and the history of such OH- /H+ -DIZBs are introduced, and then special emphasis is put on the working mechanisms, the progress of the development of new batteries, and how the electrolytes improve their performance. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingwei Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Kai Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Ritwik Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Musthafa Ottakam Thotiyl
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Zhenhai Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
- Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350108, P. R. China
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7
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Blake JW, Konderla V, Baumgartner LM, Vermaas DA, Padding JT, Haverkort JW. Inhomogeneities in the Catholyte Channel Limit the Upscaling of CO 2 Flow Electrolysers. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2023; 11:2840-2852. [PMID: 36844750 PMCID: PMC9945194 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06129] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The use of gas diffusion electrodes that supply gaseous CO2 directly to the catalyst layer has greatly improved the performance of electrochemical CO2 conversion. However, reports of high current densities and Faradaic efficiencies primarily come from small lab scale electrolysers. Such electrolysers typically have a geometric area of 5 cm2, while an industrial electrolyser would require an area closer to 1 m2. The difference in scales means that many limitations that manifest only for larger electrolysers are not captured in lab scale setups. We develop a 2D computational model of both a lab scale and upscaled CO2 electrolyser to determine performance limitations at larger scales and how they compare to the performance limitations observed at the lab scale. We find that for the same current density larger electrolysers exhibit much greater reaction and local environment inhomogeneity. Increasing catalyst layer pH and widening concentration boundary layers of the KHCO3 buffer in the electrolyte channel lead to higher activation overpotential and increased parasitic loss of reactant CO2 to the electrolyte solution. We show that a variable catalyst loading along the direction of the flow channel may improve the economics of a large scale CO2 electrolyser.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W. Blake
- Department
of Process and Energy, Delft University
of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628 CBDelft, The Netherlands
| | - Vojtěch Konderla
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, Netherlands
| | - Lorenz M. Baumgartner
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, Netherlands
| | - David A. Vermaas
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, Netherlands
| | - Johan T. Padding
- Department
of Process and Energy, Delft University
of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628 CBDelft, The Netherlands
| | - J. W. Haverkort
- Department
of Process and Energy, Delft University
of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628 CBDelft, The Netherlands
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8
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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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9
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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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10
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Petrov KV, Bui JC, Baumgartner L, Weng LC, Dischinger SM, Larson DM, Miller DJ, Weber AZ, Vermaas DA. Anion-exchange membranes with internal microchannels for water control in CO 2 electrolysis. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS 2022; 6:5077-5088. [PMID: 36389085 PMCID: PMC9642111 DOI: 10.1039/d2se00858k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2R) poses substantial promise to convert abundant feedstocks (water and CO2) to value-added chemicals and fuels using solely renewable energy. However, recent membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) devices that have been demonstrated to achieve high rates of CO2R are limited by water management within the cell, due to both consumption of water by the CO2R reaction and electro-osmotic fluxes that transport water from the cathode to the anode. Additionally, crossover of potassium (K+) ions poses concern at high current densities where saturation and precipitation of the salt ions can degrade cell performance. Herein, a device architecture incorporating an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) with internal water channels to mitigate MEA dehydration is proposed and demonstrated. A macroscale, two-dimensional continuum model is used to assess water fluxes and local water content within the modified MEA, as well as to determine the optimal channel geometry and composition. The modified AEMs are then fabricated and tested experimentally, demonstrating that the internal channels can both reduce K+ cation crossover as well as improve AEM conductivity and therefore overall cell performance. This work demonstrates the promise of these materials, and operando water-management strategies in general, in handling some of the major hurdles in the development of MEA devices for CO2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostadin V Petrov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology 2629 HZ Delft The Netherlands
| | - Justin C Bui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley California 94720-1462 USA
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - Lorenz Baumgartner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology 2629 HZ Delft The Netherlands
| | - Lien-Chun Weng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley California 94720-1462 USA
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - Sarah M Dischinger
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - David M Larson
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - Daniel J Miller
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - Adam Z Weber
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory California 94720-1462 USA
| | - David A Vermaas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology 2629 HZ Delft The Netherlands
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11
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Wang H, Yan J, Song W, Jiang C, Wang Y, Xu T. Ion exchange membrane related processes towards carbon capture, utilization and storage: Current trends and perspectives. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Zhao D, Xu J, Sun Y, Li M, Zhong G, Hu X, Sun J, Li X, Su H, Li M, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Zheng C, Sun X. Composition and Structure Progress of the Catalytic Interface Layer for Bipolar Membrane. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:2874. [PMID: 36014740 PMCID: PMC9416193 DOI: 10.3390/nano12162874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar membranes, a new type of composite ion exchange membrane, contain an anion exchange layer, a cation exchange layer and an interface layer. The interface layer or junction is the connection between the anion and cation exchange layers. Water is dissociated into protons and hydroxide ions at the junction, which provides solutions to many challenges in the chemical, environmental and energy fields. By combining bipolar membranes with electrodialysis technology, acids and bases could be produced with low cost and high efficiency. The interface layer or junction of bipolar membranes (BPMs) is the connection between the anion and cation exchange layers, which the membrane and interface layer modification are vital for improving the performance of BPMs. This paper reviews the effect of modification of a bipolar membrane interface layer on water dissociation efficiency and voltage across the membrane, which divides into three aspects: organic materials, inorganic materials and newly designed materials with multiple components. The structure of the interface layer is also introduced on the performance of bipolar membranes. In addition, the remainder of this review discusses the challenges and opportunities for the development of more efficient, sustainable and practical bipolar membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Jinyun Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Yu Sun
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Minjing Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhong
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Xudong Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiefang Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research and Design Institute, Tianjin 300131, China
| | - Han Su
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Ziqi Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Liping Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Chunming Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Technology and Process Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membrane and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Xiaohong Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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13
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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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14
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Iqbal MZ, Imteyaz S, Ghanty C, Sarkar S. A review on electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO: Ag-based electrocatalyst and cell configuration for industrial application. J IND ENG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2022.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Vass Á, Kormányos A, Kószó Z, Endrődi B, Janáky C. Anode Catalysts in CO 2 Electrolysis: Challenges and Untapped Opportunities. ACS Catal 2022; 12:1037-1051. [PMID: 35096466 PMCID: PMC8787754 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c04978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The field of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction has developed rapidly during recent years. At the same time, the role of the anodic half-reaction has received considerably less attention. In this Perspective, we scrutinize the reports on the best-performing CO2 electrolyzer cells from the past 5 years, to shed light on the role of the anodic oxygen evolution catalyst. We analyze how different cell architectures provide different local chemical environments at the anode surface, which in turn determines the pool of applicable anode catalysts. We uncover the factors that led to either a strikingly high current density operation or an exceptionally long lifetime. On the basis of our analysis, we provide a set of criteria that have to be fulfilled by an anode catalyst to achieve high performance. Finally, we provide an outlook on using alternative anode reactions (alcohol oxidation is discussed as an example), resulting in high-value products and higher energy efficiency for the overall process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zsófia Kószó
- Department of Physical Chemistry
and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Aradi Square 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Balázs Endrődi
- Department of Physical Chemistry
and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Aradi Square 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
| | - Csaba Janáky
- Department of Physical Chemistry
and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Aradi Square 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary
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16
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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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17
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Peugeot A, Creissen CE, Schreiber MW, Fontecave M. Advancing the Anode Compartment for Energy Efficient CO
2
Reduction at Neutral pH. ChemElectroChem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202100742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adèle Peugeot
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques CNRS UMR 8229 Collège de France Sorbonne Université Paris France
| | - Charles E. Creissen
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques CNRS UMR 8229 Collège de France Sorbonne Université Paris France
| | - Moritz W. Schreiber
- Total Research and Technology, Refining and Chemicals Division CO2 Conversion Feluy 7181 Seneffe Belgium
| | - Marc Fontecave
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques CNRS UMR 8229 Collège de France Sorbonne Université Paris France
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18
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Blommaert M, Aili D, Tufa RA, Li Q, Smith WA, Vermaas DA. Insights and Challenges for Applying Bipolar Membranes in Advanced Electrochemical Energy Systems. ACS ENERGY LETTERS 2021; 6:2539-2548. [PMID: 34277948 PMCID: PMC8276271 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.1c00618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar membranes (BPMs) are gaining interest in energy conversion technologies. These membranes are composed of cation- and anion-exchange layers, with an interfacial layer in between. This gives the freedom to operate in different conditions (pH, concentration, composition) at both sides. Such membranes are used in two operational modes, forward and reverse bias. BPMs have been implemented in various electrochemical applications, like water and CO2 electrolyzers, fuel cells, and flow batteries, while BPMs are historically designed for acid/base production. Therefore, current commercial BPMs are not optimized, as the conditions change per application. Although the ideal BPM has highly conductive layers, high water dissociation kinetics, long lifetime, and low ion crossover, each application has its own priorities to be competitive in its field. We describe the challenges and requirements for future BPMs, and identify existing developments that can be leveraged to develop BPMs toward the scale of practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijn
A. Blommaert
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - David Aili
- Department
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical
University of Denmark, Building 310, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ramato Ashu Tufa
- Department
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical
University of Denmark, Building 310, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Qingfeng Li
- Department
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical
University of Denmark, Building 310, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Wilson A. Smith
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - David A. Vermaas
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Delft University
of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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