The Best of Both Worlds: Segmented Catalytic Layers for the Electrocatalytic Generation of CO in Zero-Gap Electrolyzers

Lucas Hoof^a, Kevinjeorjios Pellumbi^a, Blaudszun Dennis^a, junge Puring Kai^a, Apfel Ulf-Peter^a^,^b

^aFraunhofer Institute for Environmelal, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Germany

^bRuhr University Bochum, Germany, Universitätsstraße, 150, Bochum, Germany

Materials for Sustainable Development Conference (MATSUS)
Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2024 Conference (MATSUS24)

#MatInter - Materials and Interfaces for emerging electrocatalytic reactions

Barcelona, Spain, 2024 March 4th - 8th

Organizers: Marta Costa Figueiredo and María Escudero-Escribano

Oral, Kevinjeorjios Pellumbi, presentation 252
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2024.252
Publication date: 18th December 2023

Tailoring the properties of the catalytic layer (CL) alongside its architecture is a key development towards ensuring both improve efficiency and selectivity for CO₂ electrolyzers. Traditionally, CLs for the CO₂R consist of a single binder-material or a combination of them overtaking both the ion-conductance and maintenance of a hydrophobic environment.^{[1], [2], [3]}

We herein decoupled these processes into two individual, stacked catalyst-containing layers. Specifically, a hydrophobic catalytic layer was herein placed on the GDL aiming to improve water management within the CL during CO₂R in zero-gap electrolyzers, while a second catalytic layer bound by an ion-conducting binder allows for the conduction of OH^- and HCO₃^-/CO₃^2- during CO₂R, improving both the ionic conductivity between the GDE and AEM as well as the mechanical adhesion between the different interfaces. Notably, we present the complete stepwise CL-optimization pathway, regarding both the single and segmented-CLs towards the CO₂-CO conversion at current densities ≥ 300 mA cm^‑2, highlighting the role of the operational parameters regarding scalability in different cell sizes and long-term stability > 100 h.

References:

[1] Nwabara, A. O.; Hernandez, A. D.; Henchel, D. A.; Chien, X.; Cofell, E. R.; de-Heer, M. P.; Verma, S.; Gewirth, A. A.; Kenis, P. J. A. Binder-Focused Approaches to Improve the Stability of Cathodes for CO2 Electroreduction. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4, 5, 5175-5186

[2] Pan, F.; Yang, Y. Designing CO2 reduction electrode materials by morphology and interface engineering. Energy Environ. Sci. 2020, 13, 2275-2309

[3] Vennekoetter, J.-B.; Sengpiel, R.; Wessling, M. Beyond the catalyst: How electrode and reactor design determine the product spectrum during electrochemical CO2 reduction. Chem. Eng. J. 2019, 364, 89-101

Acknowledgements:

K.P acknowledges the Fonds of the Chemical Industry for a PhD Fellowship. S.A. and U.-P.A. was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2033 - 390677874 – RESOLV as well as APAP242/9-1, the Fraunhofer Internal Programs under Grant no. Attract 097-602175. The authors are also thankful for support by the Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR.Exzellenz, ‘DIMENSION’ Ex-2021-0034 and ‘KataSign’ Ko-2021-0016).

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