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High-resolution neutron imaging of salt precipitation and water transport in zero-gap CO2 electrolysis

Author

Listed:
  • Joey Disch

    (University of Freiburg
    University of Freiburg, Institute and FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies)

  • Luca Bohn

    (University of Freiburg
    University of Freiburg, Institute and FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies)

  • Susanne Koch

    (University of Freiburg
    Hahn-Schickard)

  • Michael Schulz

    (Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Technische Universität München)

  • Yiyong Han

    (Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Technische Universität München)

  • Alessandro Tengattini

    (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR
    Institut Laue-Langevin)

  • Lukas Helfen

    (Institut Laue-Langevin)

  • Matthias Breitwieser

    (University of Freiburg
    Hahn-Schickard)

  • Severin Vierrath

    (University of Freiburg
    University of Freiburg, Institute and FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies
    Hahn-Schickard)

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a pivotal technology for the defossilization of the chemical industry. Although pilot-scale electrolyzers exist, water management and salt precipitation remain a major hurdle to long-term operation. In this work, we present high-resolution neutron imaging (6 μm) of a zero-gap CO2 electrolyzer to uncover water distribution and salt precipitation under application-relevant operating conditions (200 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 2.8 V with a Faraday efficiency for CO of 99%). Precipitated salts penetrating the cathode gas diffusion layer can be observed, which are believed to block the CO2 gas transport and are therefore the major cause for the commonly observed decay in Faraday efficiency. Neutron imaging further shows higher salt accumulation under the cathode channel of the flow field compared to the land.

Suggested Citation

  • Joey Disch & Luca Bohn & Susanne Koch & Michael Schulz & Yiyong Han & Alessandro Tengattini & Lukas Helfen & Matthias Breitwieser & Severin Vierrath, 2022. "High-resolution neutron imaging of salt precipitation and water transport in zero-gap CO2 electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33694-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33694-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cameron Hepburn & Ella Adlen & John Beddington & Emily A. Carter & Sabine Fuss & Niall Mac Dowell & Jan C. Minx & Pete Smith & Charlotte K. Williams, 2019. "The technological and economic prospects for CO2 utilization and removal," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7781), pages 87-97, November.
    2. David Wakerley & Sarah Lamaison & Joshua Wicks & Auston Clemens & Jeremy Feaster & Daniel Corral & Shaffiq A. Jaffer & Amitava Sarkar & Marc Fontecave & Eric B. Duoss & Sarah Baker & Edward H. Sargent, 2022. "Gas diffusion electrodes, reactor designs and key metrics of low-temperature CO2 electrolysers," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 130-143, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiangyu Meng & Chuntong Zhu & Xin Wang & Zehua Liu & Mengmeng Zhu & Kuibo Yin & Ran Long & Liuning Gu & Xinxing Shao & Litao Sun & Yueming Sun & Yunqian Dai & Yujie Xiong, 2023. "Hierarchical triphase diffusion photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical gas/liquid flow conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Hugo-Pieter Iglesias van Montfort & Mengran Li & Erdem Irtem & Maryam Abdinejad & Yuming Wu & Santosh K. Pal & Mark Sassenburg & Davide Ripepi & Siddhartha Subramanian & Jasper Biemolt & Thomas E. Ruf, 2023. "Non-invasive current collectors for improved current-density distribution during CO2 electrolysis on super-hydrophobic electrodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Simon Rufer & Michael P. Nitzsche & Sanjay Garimella & Jack R. Lake & Kripa K. Varanasi, 2024. "Hierarchically conductive electrodes unlock stable and scalable CO2 electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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