Abstract
AbstractToday's electrochemical reactor design is a less developed discipline as compared to electrocatalytic synthesis. Although catalysts show increasing conversion rates, they are often operated without measures for the reduction of concentration polarization effects. As a result, a stagnant boundary layer forms at the electrode‐electrolyte interface. This stagnant boundary layer presents an additional voltage drop and reduces the energy efficiency. It is generally accepted that this phenomenon is caused by a combination of fast electrode reactions and slow diffusion of the reacting species. Our earlier work demonstrated the potential of non‐conducting static mixers to reduce concentration polarization effects. However, there are few studies on conductive static mixers applied as electrodes. In this study, we present a new concept of additive manufactured flow through electrode mixers. Our electrode geometry combines a high surface area with mixing properties, diminishing concentration polarization effects of transport‐limited reactions. Mass transport properties of these conductive static mixers are evaluated in an additive manufactured electrochemical reactor under controlled conditions by applying the limiting‐current method.
Highlights
Electrochemical research focuses on catalyst materials for new applications
Lolsberg et al / ChemElectroChem (2017) 1–8 less effort is spent on understanding details of electrodes in real reactor configurations. [3,4,5,6] Concentration polarization at the electrode-electrolyte interface is systematically eliminated in ideal electrochemical characterization methods such as the rotating disk electrode, while they are omnipresent in real reactors. [7,8,9,10,11,12,13] Fluid control at electrodes is a pre-requisite to obtain electrochemical conversions as characterized and tailored for new electro-catalysts on a microscale. [14,15,16,17,18,19,20] Additive manufacturing serves as an example to create new electrodes and electrochemical reactors with functional geometries. [21,22,23,24,25] Below, we present additive manufactured flow through electrode mixers with yet unprecedented geometry and enhanced hydrodynamics
The helical electrode mixer leads to a rotational flow profile reducing the concentration polarization layer at the electrode-electrolyte interface
Summary
Electrochemical research focuses on catalyst materials for new applications. [21,22,23,24,25] Below, we present additive manufactured flow through electrode mixers with yet unprecedented geometry and enhanced hydrodynamics. [14,15,16,17,18,19,20] Additive manufacturing serves as an example to create new electrodes and electrochemical reactors with functional geometries. These electrodes serve as an example how to diminish concentration polarization as evidenced by increasing limiting current densities. In our manuscript we use the term electrode mixer rather than the frequently used term turbulence promoter to avoid technical misconception
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