Abstract
Oxygen-depolarized cathodes are a novel concept to be used in chlor-alkali electrolysis in order to generate significant energy savings. In these porous gas diffusion electrodes, hydrophilic and catalytically active microsized silver grains and a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene cobweb structure are combined to obtain the optimum amount of three-phase boundaries between the highly alkaline electrolyte and the oxygen gas phase to achieve high current densities. However, the direct correlation between specific electrode structure and electrochemical performance is difficult. In this work, we report on the successful design and adaptation of an in-operando cell for X-ray (micro-computed tomography, synchrotron) and neutron imaging of an operating oxygen-depolarized cathode under realistic operation conditions, enabling the investigation of the electrolyte invasion into, and distribution inside, the porous electrode for the first time.
Highlights
Introduction60% of all chemical products [1]
Chlorine is a commodity chemical, needed in large quantities for the manufacture of more than60% of all chemical products [1]
We report on the successful design and adaptation of an in-operando cell for X-ray and neutron imaging of an operating oxygen-depolarized cathode (ODC) under realistic operation conditions
Summary
60% of all chemical products [1] Until recently, it has been mainly synthesized by the amalgam and the diaphragm process [2,3]. It has been mainly synthesized by the amalgam and the diaphragm process [2,3] These two versions of the chlor-alkali electrolysis (CAE) have been subject to development and research to minimize the harmful and controversial use of mercury and asbestos [4]. Electrical energy savings of up to 30% can be obtained due to the lower Gibbs free energy of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared to the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this manner, the cell potential can be theoretically lowered by
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