Abstract
Producing chemical fuels from sunlight is a sustainable way to utilize solar energy and reduce carbon emissions. Within the current photovoltaic-electrolysis or photoelectrochemical-based solar fuel generation system, electrochemical CO2 reduction is the key step. Although there has been important progress in developing new materials and devices, scaling up electrochemical CO2 reduction is essential to promote the industrial application of this technology. In this work, we use Ag and In as the representative electrocatalyst for producing gas and liquid products in both small and big electrochemical cells. We find that gas production is blocked more easily than liquid products when scaling up the electrochemical cell. Simulation results show that the generated gas product, CO, forms bubbles on the surface of the electrocatalyst, thus blocking the transport of CO2, while there is no such trouble for producing the liquid product such as formate. This work provides methods for studying the mass transfer of CO, and it is also an important reference for scaling up solar fuel generation devices that are constructed based on electrochemical CO2 reduction.
Highlights
Ag and In as the representative electrocatalyst for producing gas and liquid products in both small and big electrochemical cells
The current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has obviously increased compared to the beginning of the industrial revolution and has caused global warming [1]
Reactions can be independently studied by electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2 R) reactions, in which CO2 can be reduced into carbon-based fuels, including gaseous products, such as catalysts for producing gas (CO), CH4, C2 H6, C2 H4, C2 H2, etc., and liquid products, such as HCOOH, CH3 COOH, CH3 OH, C2 H5 OH, etc. [7,8]
Summary
Ag and In as the representative electrocatalyst for producing gas and liquid products in both small and big electrochemical cells. It is generally known that CO2 R reactions can be independently studied by electrochemical CO2 R reactions, in which CO2 can be reduced into carbon-based fuels, including gaseous products, such as CO, CH4 , C2 H6 , C2 H4 , C2 H2 , etc., and liquid products, such as HCOOH, CH3 COOH, CH3 OH, C2 H5 OH, etc. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
