Stability Studies for a Membrane Electrode Assembly Type CO₂ Electro-Reduction Electrolytic Cell

Authors

Qing MAO, 1. School of Chemical Engineer, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;Follow
Bing-yu LI, 1. School of Chemical Engineer, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
Wei-yun JING, 1. School of Chemical Engineer, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
Jian ZHAO, 1. School of Chemical Engineer, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
Song LIU, 2. Laboratory of Aerospace Catalysts and New Materials, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dalian 116023, China;
Yan-qiang HUANGFollow
Zhao-long DU, 3. Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute, Beijing 102200, China

Corresponding Author

Qing MAO(maoqing@dlut.edu.cn);
Yan-qiang HUANG(yqhuang@dicp.ac.cn)

Abstract

Electro-catalytic reduction is an efficient way to achieve resourcable transformation of CO₂, which is one of the important techniques to solve the global environmental problems originated from excessive CO₂ emission. In this study, a membrane electrode assembly(MEA) type CO₂ electro-reduction electrolytic cell was constucted, which enables CO₂ feeding and real-time KHCO₃ aqueous updating on both sides of the cathode gas diffusion electrode (GDE). By means of the electrolytic cell, effects of KHCO₃ concentration and updating inside the liquid electrolytic chamber on CO₂ electro-reduction activity, production distribution and stability were investigated. The experimental results suggested that the KHCO₃ concentration exerted strong influence on the cell voltage rather than the production distribution for the current densities lower than 5 mA·cm^-2. The performance of MEA type CO₂ electro-reduction cell decayed in both “reversible” and “irreversible” ways. Catalysts leaking at the GDE/liquid electrolyte interface might be respossible for the cell “irreversible” decay. Meanwhile, th leakage of KHCO₃ aqueous electrolyte arose from gas accumulation in the liquid electrolytic chamber contributed to the “reversible” degradation, which could be recovered effectively by updating the KHCO₃ aqueous electrolyte.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

CO2 electro-reduction, membrane electrode assembly, electrolytic cell, stability

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.190305

Publication Date

2020-06-28

Online Available Date

2019-04-12

Revised Date

2019-04-08

Received Date

2019-03-05

Recommended Citation

Qing MAO, Bing-yu LI, Wei-yun JING, Jian ZHAO, Song LIU, Yan-qiang HUANG, Zhao-long DU. Stability Studies for a Membrane Electrode Assembly Type CO₂ Electro-Reduction Electrolytic Cell[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2020 , 26(3): 359-369.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.190305
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol26/iss3/11