Sunken-Serpentine Flow-Field Engineering Unlocks Ampere-Level CO 2 Electrolysis via Local CO 2 Enrichment and Water Management
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) on Ag catalysts requires a balance among a high current density, high CO selectivity, and stability. Maximizing catalytic site utilization requires uniform CO 2 penetration across the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) while suppressing flooding. This work elucidates the interplay between mass transport and water management in zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers through flow plate engineering. We demonstrate that in-plane CO 2 injection enhances catalyst utilization by improving gas accessibility and facilitating water removal. Using a sunken-serpentine flow plate, we achieved a stable operation exceeding 1 A cm –2 with minimal hydrogen evolution. CO partial current densities reached 861 and 947 mA cm –2 for Ag and Ni-NC catalysts, respectively─34.5% and 18.3% higher than conventional designs. These results are supported by transport modeling and X-ray computed tomography, revealing the CO 2 concentration gradients and flooding dynamics. Our findings establish a broadly applicable design strategy to overcome mass-transport limitations.
Source: ACS Energy Letters
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Funders: National Research Foundation, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Ministry of Education, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Education, India, National Research Council of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
OpenAlex ID: W7155154756