Electrochemical conversion of CO2
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Returning CO2 to the chemical supply chain as a renewable C1 feedstock can allow the closing of the carbon loop in chemicals and fuels manufacturing. Electrochemical conversion of CO2 is a promising method to achieve this. To help facilitate the adaption of this method for commercial and industrial applications, this work will work to utilize specialized catalyst supports to increase reaction rates and decrease catalyst cost by increasing the electrochemically active surface area of our catalyst supports. We will also design methods for evaluating experimental and computational catalyst design and develop energy efficient electrolysis reactions by experimenting with anode-boosted electrolysis, first paired with hydrogen evolution, which is a well-studied electrochemical reaction, and then with CO2 reduction. Finally, we examine the effect of high-pressure CO2 reduction when paired with the anode-boosting reaction. In this thesis, we show how carbon-based catalyst supports can be specially treated to allow greater catalyst loading. We also present methods for procuring SERS active catalysts and electrocatalyst supports which can be used to investigate the fundamental mechanisms that govern CO¬¬2 electrolysis. Understanding these mechanisms can facilitate the computational and practical design of novel CO2 electrocatalysts. Another major aspect of CO2 electrolysis is the counter reaction, which is typically the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which suffers from sluggish kinetics and generates a product of low value (oxygen). It also requires large energy inputs and uses rare materials like iridium to catalyze the reaction. A major contribution is our work to show how a zero-gap electrolyzer can be used for hydrogen production, which is a valuable zero-emission fuel. CO2 reduction and hydrogen evolution can both be paired with anode reactions like methanol dehydrogenation for anode-boosted electrolysis. The CO2 reduction can be improved by increasing the partial pressure, and thus reaction rate for conversion. Therefore, we developed a high-pressure CO2 electrolysis system for investigation the alternative anodic reactions paired with CO2 reduction in an apparatus that allows for high pressure conditions to be applied.
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007782
Author: Fields, Jacob P.
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6889683911
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