Additive manufactured metal lattice structures used as flow-through electrodes in a filter-press electrochemical reactor

Abstract

This study deals with the electrochemical and hydraulic performances of additive manufactured metal periodic lattice structure electrodes. These electrodes are fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) from the titanium alloy TA6V and two structures have been studied: diagonal and octet-truss. They are integrated, as flow-through electrodes, in an electrochemical filter-press reactor. Current–potential curves are experimentally obtained by linear sweep voltammetry when feeding the reactor with a ferricyanide solution. From the measurement of the limiting current of ferricyanide ions reduction, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient kAe is determined for several flow rates. Numerical simulations of fluid flow and mass transfer in these structures are also performed. Results show high values of kAe for these structures (competing with carbon felt electrodes) while maintaining a high permeability (low flow resistance). The surface roughness, inherent to the additive manufacturing process, is found to induce a low (≲10%) enhancement of mass transfer despite the roughness size (Ra in the range 10-20μm) is close to the average thickness of the diffusion layer (for the investigated fluid velocities). As a result, these electrode structures show promising potential to be used in intensified electrochemical reactors by being further optimized to find the optimal internal dimensions that maximize mass transfer while limiting flow resistance.