Bench-Scale Electrochemical System for Generation of CO and Syn-Gas

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Electrochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-011-0271-6· OSTI ID:1020293

Dufek, Eric J; Lister, Tedd E; McIlwain, Michael E

A bench-scale system for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 has been developed which produces CO and H2 (syn-gas) mixtures. The system is equipped with a gas-diffusion electrode which partially alleviates some of the mass-transport issues associated with CO2 delivery to the cathode. The positive effect of temperature was discovered where at 70°C a reduction in cell voltage of 1.57 V (compared to ambient) was observed at 70 mA cm-2. Controlling the flow of CO2 made it possible to maintain set H2:CO ratios with CO accounting for 25-90% of the product and H2 accounting for 10-75%. The cell, after an initial stabilization period of 40 min, displays reproducible, stable behavior. The current cell design brings the current densities for CO2 reduction closer to what is currently achieved in industrial alkaline electrolysis cells. This report discusses the electrolyte, electrode materials and variables which have been found to be significant in the production of CO and syn-gas mixtures.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1020293
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-10-20307; TRN: US201116%%240
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol. 41, Issue 6; ISSN 0021--891X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
08 HYDROGEN
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
DESIGN
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
MIXTURES
PRODUCTION
STABILIZATION
Carbon dioxide reduction
electrolysis
energy conversion
energy storage
gas diffusion electrode
load leveling
syn-gas