Minor Product Polymerization Causes Failure of High-Current CO<sub>2</sub>-to-Ethylene Electrolyzers
Mikhail Kovalev, Hangjuan Ren, Marsha Zakir Muhamad, Joel W. Ager, Alexei A. Lapkin
Abstract
Flooding of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) used in electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethylene is caused by polymerization of minor products. The polymer so created reduces the hydrophobicity of the GDE, leading initially to a reduction in the ethylene yield and finally to complete failure.
Topics & Concepts
EthylenePolymerizationMaterials sciencePolymerYield (engineering)ElectrochemistryChemical engineeringCurrent (fluid)ElectrodeChemistryOrganic chemistryCatalysisMetallurgyEngineeringElectrical engineeringPhysical chemistryCO2 Reduction Techniques and CatalystsCarbon dioxide utilization in catalysisIonic liquids properties and applications