Open AccessA CuO x /Cu/C electrocatalyst‐based gas diffusion electrode for the electroreduction of CO 2 with high selectivity to C 2 H 4
Author(s) -
Chanda Vimanshu,
Junqueira João R. C.,
Sikdar Nivedita,
Sanjuán Ignacio,
Braun Michael,
Dieckhöfer Stefan,
Seisel Sabine,
Andronescu Corina
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
electrochemical science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2698-5977
DOI - 10.1002/elsa.202100200
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , faraday efficiency , electrode , catalysis , electrochemistry , selectivity , gas diffusion electrode , materials science , pyrolysis , diffusion , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Electrochemical conversion of CO 2 (CO 2 RR) has received significant attention since it could provide pathways for renewable energy storage to energy‐dense chemicals and synthetic fuels. We developed a novel CuO x /Cu/C type electrocatalyst via pyrolysis, which we used to convert CO 2 at industrially relevantly current densities using gas diffusion electrodes. The influence of the pyrolysis conditions on the electrocatalytic CO 2 RR activity and selectivity was evaluated. Optimization of the electrode structure to mitigate electrowetting was done by mixing the catalyst with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). We found that mixing the most active catalyst with PTFE in a mass ratio of 1 to 0.25 substantially increased the formation of C 2 H 4 displaying 41% Faradaic efficiency (FE) at –240 mA cm –2 . Prolonged CO 2 RR at different current densities shows that the electrode containing 25 wt.% PTFE in the catalyst layer display FE C2H4 > 40% at –280 mA cm –2 for 2 h.