High-resolution neutron imaging of salt precipitation and water transport in zero-gap CO2 electrolysis

Joey Disch, Luca Bohn, Susanne Koch, Michael Schulz, Yiyong Han, Alessandro Tengattini, Lukas Helfen, Matthias Breitwieser and Severin Vierrath ()
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Joey Disch: University of Freiburg
Luca Bohn: University of Freiburg
Susanne Koch: University of Freiburg
Michael Schulz: Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Technische Universität München
Yiyong Han: Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Technische Universität München
Alessandro Tengattini: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR
Lukas Helfen: Institut Laue-Langevin
Matthias Breitwieser: University of Freiburg
Severin Vierrath: University of Freiburg

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a pivotal technology for the defossilization of the chemical industry. Although pilot-scale electrolyzers exist, water management and salt precipitation remain a major hurdle to long-term operation. In this work, we present high-resolution neutron imaging (6 μm) of a zero-gap CO2 electrolyzer to uncover water distribution and salt precipitation under application-relevant operating conditions (200 mA cm−2 at a cell voltage of 2.8 V with a Faraday efficiency for CO of 99%). Precipitated salts penetrating the cathode gas diffusion layer can be observed, which are believed to block the CO2 gas transport and are therefore the major cause for the commonly observed decay in Faraday efficiency. Neutron imaging further shows higher salt accumulation under the cathode channel of the flow field compared to the land.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33694-y

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