Implementing ionomers in silver gas diffusion electrodes for improved long term CO₂ to CO redox reaction

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into other higher-value chemicals can help industries reach a zero CO₂ emission cycle, thus reducing the amount of CO₂ emitted in the atmosphere by their processes. Multiple studies show that gas diffusion silver electrodes (Ag GDE), give high selectivity towards CO production, making them one of the most promising elements for this process. Nowadays, the main problem is the long term stability at high industrial relevant current densities due to the formation of salt precipitates, flooding of the gas diffusion electrode and other constraints.

In this project, Ag electrodes fabricated by the dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT) technique will be modified with ionomers with the aim to solve those problems and increase their long term stability.

The project aims to consider:

• Incorporate different ionomers on the system
• Find optimal deposition technique and parameters
• Study their interactions with the catalyst layer and reactants
• Study the full reaction with the modified layers

This project is in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Thomas Turek group in Clausthal University.

Project Profile

Duration: 15.03.2025 - 14.03.2028

Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG)

Projekt Partners:

• TU Clausthal, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Turek

Contact: Laia Capdevila, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Roth