Open AccessPolymer‐Supported Liquid Layer Electrolyzer Enabled Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction to CO with High Energy Efficiency
Author(s) -
Li Shangyu,
Ma Yiwen,
Zhao Tiancheng,
Li Jiaxin,
Kang Xinyue,
Guo Wen,
Wen Yunzhou,
Wang Liping,
Wang Yurui,
Lin Renxing,
Li Tiantian,
Tan Hairen,
Peng Huisheng,
Zhang Bo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistryopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2191-1363
DOI - 10.1002/open.202100084
Subject(s) - cathode , anode , separator (oil production) , materials science , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , electrolysis , electrode , chemistry , electrolyte , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to carbon monoxide (CO) is a favorable approach to reduce CO 2 emission while converting excess sustainable energy to important chemical feedstocks. At high current density (>100 mA cm −2 ), low energy efficiency (EE) and unaffordable cell cost limit the industrial application of conventional CO 2 electrolyzers. Thus, a crucial and urgent task is to design a new type of CO 2 electrolyzer that can work efficiently at high current density. Here we report a polymer‐supported liquid layer (PSL) electrolyzer using polypropylene non‐woven fabric as a separator between anode and cathode. Ag based cathode was fed with humid CO 2 and potassium hydroxide was fed to earth‐abundant NiFe‐based anode. In this configuration, the PSL provided high‐pH condition for the cathode reaction and reduced the cell resistance, achieving a high full cell EE over 66 % at 100 mA cm −2 .