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Electrodeposited Cu 2 O Films on Gas Diffusion Layers for Selective CO 2 Electroreduction to Ethylene in an Alkaline Flow Electrolyzer
Author(s) -
Anastasiadou Dimitra,
Schellekens Maarten,
de Heer Michiel,
Verma Sumit,
Negro Emanuela
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201900971
Subject(s) - overpotential , electrolysis , electrode , faraday efficiency , catalysis , materials science , diffusion , ethylene , cathode , gas diffusion electrode , inorganic chemistry , copper , selectivity , current density , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , electrochemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , physics , engineering , electrolyte , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
Novel electrodes for the electroreduction of CO 2 were prepared by the electrodeposition of copper (I) oxide (Cu 2 O) catalytic films on a gas diffusion layer. Different electrodes were prepared by varying the deposition time, corresponding to catalyst loadings of 0.37, 0.74, 2.22, 3.70 mg cm −2 and a total charge density of 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 C cm −2 , respectively. The electrodes were characterized with SEM, XRD, and UPD. The effect of catalyst loading on the selectivity towards ethylene was investigated in an alkaline flow electrolyzer under ambient conditions. The electrodes were found to be highly selective (>60 %) towards ethylene. The 1 C cm −2 electrode reached Faradaic efficiency values as high as 67 % at industrially relevant current densities of 183 mA cm −2 , −0.8 V cathode overpotential and 36 % cell energy efficiency. This performance was attributed to the interplaying role of applied potential, local pH, availability of active sites, and reduced CO 2 mass transport limitations.