A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid

Hu, Leiming; Wrubel, Jacob A.; Baez-Cotto, Carlos M.; Intia, Fry; Park, Jae Hyung; Kropf, Arthur Jeremy; Kariuki, Nancy; Huang, Zhe; Farghaly, Ahmed; Amichi, Lynda; Saha, Prantik; Tao, Ling; Cullen, David A.; Myers, Deborah J.; Ferrandon, Magali S.; Neyerlin, K. C.

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43409-6

A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid

Journal Article · Tue Nov 21 23:00:00 EST 2023 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43409-6· OSTI ID:2217556

; Wrubel, Jacob A.; ; Intia, Fry; Park, Jae Hyung; ; Kariuki, Nancy; Huang, Zhe; ; Amichi, Lynda; Saha, Prantik; ; ; ; Ferrandon, Magali S.;

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid is a promising pathway to improve CO ₂ utilization and has potential applications as a hydrogen storage medium. In this work, a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly architecture is developed for the direct electrochemical synthesis of formic acid from carbon dioxide. The key technological advancement is a perforated cation exchange membrane, which, when utilized in a forward bias bipolar membrane configuration, allows formic acid generated at the membrane interface to exit through the anode flow field at concentrations up to 0.25 M. Having no additional interlayer components between the anode and cathode this concept is positioned to leverage currently available materials and stack designs ubiquitous in fuel cell and H ₂ electrolysis, enabling a more rapid transition to scale and commercialization. The perforated cation exchange membrane configuration can achieve >75% Faradaic efficiency to formic acid at <2 V and 300 mA/cm ² in a 25 cm ² cell. More critically, a 55-hour stability test at 200 mA/cm ² shows stable Faradaic efficiency and cell voltage. Technoeconomic analysis is utilized to illustrate a path towards achieving cost parity with current formic acid production methods.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 2217556

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2481272
OSTI ID: 2228672
OSTI ID: 2278906

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 14; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid

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A scalable membrane electrode assembly architecture for efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid

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