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Title: Bipolar Membranes Inhibit Product Crossover in CO 2 Electrolysis Cells

Journal Article · · Advanced Sustainable Systems
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Department of Chemistry The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USA
  2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Vanderbilt University Nashville TN 37235 USA
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Abstract As electrocatalysts and electrolyzer designs for CO 2 reduction continue to improve in terms of current density and product selectivity, product crossover from the cathode to the anode is a loss mechanism that is relatively unexplored. The crossover rates of formate, methanol, and ethanol, which are desirable CO 2 reduction products, are compared in electrolyzers containing anion‐exchange membranes and bipolar membranes. The crossover of formate, an anionic CO 2 reduction product, occurs by electromigration through anion‐exchange membranes, and its rate increases linearly with current density. Crossover of electroneutral methanol or ethanol through anion‐exchange membranes occurs to a lesser extent through both diffusion and electroosmotic drag, the latter increasing with current density in anion‐exchange membranes. In contrast, the outward fluxes of protons and hydroxide ions generated in bipolar membranes inhibit the crossover of both anionic and neutral products, even with membranes that contain high surface area junctions. Calculated electroosmotic drag coefficients for each of the neutral products confirm the better performance of bipolar membranes in terms of product losses.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
DE‐FG02‐07ER15911
OSTI ID:
1423488
Journal Information:
Advanced Sustainable Systems, Journal Name: Advanced Sustainable Systems Vol. 2 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 2366-7486
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 87 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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