Search

Paired electrolysis offers an auspicious strategy for the generation of high‐value chemicals, at both the anode and cathode, in an integrated electrochemical reactor. Through efficient electron utilization, routine product misuse at overlooked electrodes can be prevented. Here, an original paired electrosynthetic system is reported that can convert CO2 to ethylene (C2H4) at the cathode, and water to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at the anode under a single pass of electric charge. Amongst various investigated copper (Cu) nanomorphologies, the bespoke mixed Cu nanowire/nanoparticle catalyst recorded a peak C2H4 Faraday efficiency (FE) of 60% following 370 h of electrolysis at 200 mA cm−2, while the tailored boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode accumulated an unprecedented ≈1% w/w of H2O2 in 4 m K2CO3 upon applying 300 mA cm−2 for 10 h. When paired, the dual C2H4‐H2O2 electrochemical cell attains a combined FE of 120% for 50 h at 200 mA cm−2, a combined energy efficiency (EE) of 69%, and a 50% decrease in the overall electrical energy consumption (EEC) compared to the individual electrosynthesis of C2H4 and H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an article published in Advanced Energy Materials, researchers describe a paired electrochemical reactor that can continuously produce ethylene and hydrogen peroxide. The reactor achieved a combined Faraday efficiency of 120% and an energy efficiency of 69% when operated at 200 mA cm−2 for 50 hours. Additionally, the reactor's overall electrical energy consumption was reduced by 50%. This research has implications for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels using carbon dioxide reduction and water oxidation reactions. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • Lignin was coated on a glassy carbon electrode and a carbon felt electrode. • Reaction kinetics and reversibility of the VO 2 + / VO 2 + couple were greatly improved. • The discharge capacity was 1.6 times higher with lignin on the electrode. • The charge surpassed the maximum theoretical capacity for the vanadium electrolyte. Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) are promising candidates for large- scale energy storage applications however, there are still some obstacles that need to be overcome such as their low energy density (25–30 Wh L−1 for a 1.8 M electrolyte), high cost and large environmental impact due to corrosiveness and the unsustainability of vanadium. To address these challenges, we introduce lignin as a low-cost electrocatalyst and capacity booster for the positive electrolyte. Coated on a glassy carbon electrode, lignin showed electrocatalytic abilities and improved the electrochemical reversibility of the VO2+/ VO 2 + redox couple significantly. In charge and discharge cycles volumetric capacities of 28 Ah L−1 (charge) and 23.5 Ah L−1 (discharge) were achieved with a 0.9 M concentrated vanadium electrolyte which surpassed the maximum theoretical capacity of 24.1 Ah L−1 in the charge. This demonstrates an increase of 7.5 Ah L−1 and 9 Ah L−1 for the charge and discharge cycles, respectively, compared to a pristine carbon felt electrode. This work showcases the noteworthy influence of lignin on vanadium and opens new possibilities for VRFB chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twelve-electron carbon dioxide reduction reaction (12 e – CO 2 RR) constitutes a sustainable alternative to steam cracking for the production of ethylene (C 2 H 4), the world's most coveted organic compound. State-of-the-art gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), while exhibiting promising faradaic efficiencies for C 2 H 4 electrosynthesis, suffer from poor long-term stability, particularly at elevated applied currents, due to catalyst delamination and flooding of the diffusion layer. Herein, through the development and optimisation of a novel, facile and flexible spray-printing method, hydrophobic porous carbon and copper electrodes with different architectures are obtained readily by using suspensions consisting of two fugitive solvents, which provide larger surface areas for the three-phase boundary and improve the hydrophobicity/flooding tolerance of the electrodes, due to their increased surface roughness and binder (PVDF) content. These structures, with pore sizes as low as 60 μm, transform the surfaces from incomplete wetting to highly hydrophobic, and can be employed as gas-diffusion, microporous or supportive layers, in addition to acting as a supporting substrate for the copper-based catalyst. These layers are spray-printed in a stacked assembly upon polymer film and carbon paper substrates, and ultimately result in an extended duration of enhanced C 2 H 4 production at applied currents of up to 200 mA cm−2 via multiple configurations. Through layer-by-layer spray-printing with a hydrophobic microporous layer and porous catalyst support, this inventive approach can efficiently control the hydrophobicity of the GDE, and extends the cathode operation time by a factor of 6, with a maximum faradaic efficiency of 52% attained, and an average of >30% maintained over 12 h of continuous electrolysis, demonstrating the versatility of this technique for engineering highly durable GDEs for selective CO 2 reduction toward multi-carbon (C 2+) commodities, energy storage devices and other electrochemical applications. Prolonging electrochemical CO 2 conversion to ethylene : A novel and versatile layer-by-layer spray-printing method incorporating a hydrophobic microporous layer and porous catalyst support, enables the efficient modulation of the GDE's hydrophobicity, extending the cathode's permanence by a factor of 6, and attaining a maximum 12 e – CO 2 RR faradaic efficiency of 52%, while maintaining >30% for 12 h of electrolysis. [Display omitted] • Comparison of GDE configurations spray-printing, PVD/sputtering, electrodeposition. • Successful incorporation of hydrophobic films to hinder flooding. • Porous electrodes of different layers extended the duration of CO 2 electrolysis. • Layer-by-layer spray-printing for >12 h C 2 H 4 production at 52% faradaic efficiency. • GDE design process for far-reaching applications across batteries and electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]