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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

Publication Date

2020-06-28

Online Available Date

2019-04-12

Revised Date

2019-04-08

Received Date

2019-03-05

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