Simulation‐based guidance for improving CO2${ m CO}_{2}$ reduction on silver gas diffusion electrodes

Abstract The reduction of CO2${ m CO}_{2}$ in an electrochemical reactor using electrical energy is a promising approach to implement a more sustainable carbon economy and to replace fossil fuels with renewable carbon sources. Conventionally used solid plate electrodes are limited by poor mass trans...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matthias Heßelmann, Berinike Clara Bräsel, Robert Gregor Keller, Matthias Wessling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2023-02-01
Series:Electrochemical Science Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/elsa.202100160
Description
Summary:Abstract The reduction of CO2${ m CO}_{2}$ in an electrochemical reactor using electrical energy is a promising approach to implement a more sustainable carbon economy and to replace fossil fuels with renewable carbon sources. Conventionally used solid plate electrodes are limited by poor mass transport of the reactants. Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) can overcome this limitation and have gained industrial relevance during the last decades. A comprehensive understanding of transport and conversion phenomena within such porous electrodes is not yet well developed. Here, we report a one‐dimensional steady state model of the GDE to investigate the influence of relevant operational parameters and GDE properties on CO2${ m CO}_{2}$ reduction. The results indicate the importance of controlling the local reaction environment, that is, the reactant concentration and the pH value, by tuning the electrolyte and gas composition, and flow rate as well as the catalyst layer properties.
ISSN:2698-5977