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Minor Product Polymerization Causes Failure of High-Current CO2-to-Ethylene Electrolyzers

Journal Article · · ACS Energy Letters
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Cambridge (Singapore). Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (Singapore). Berkeley Educational Alliance for Research in Singapore Center; Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Cambridge (Singapore). Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore; Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom)

Flooding of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) used in electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethylene is caused by polymerization of minor products. As such, the polymer so created reduces the hydrophobicity of the GDE, leading initially to a reduction in the ethylene yield and finally to complete failure.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; National Research Foundation (NRF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1894313
Journal Information:
ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 7; ISSN 2380-8195
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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