Microchanneled Solid Electrolyte for In-Situ CO2 Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CO2RR systems suffer from high CO2 loss due to conversion to carbonates and bicarbonates, leading to reduced carbon efficiency and stability issues, with existing solutions like bipolar membranes and solid-state electrolyte beds being inefficient or costly.
Innovation Solution
A microchanneled solid electrolyte (MSE) with integrated microchannels facilitates in-situ regeneration and collection of CO2 by conducting (bi)carbonate anions and protons, preventing CO2 loss to the anode side and enabling recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional electrolyzers are used to perform CO2RR at industrially relevant reaction rates, then valuable multi-carbon chemicals are generated at high selectivities, but CO2 is rapidly converted to carbonates and bicarbonates which are lost to the electrolyte and anode tail gas
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyzer is divided into distinct compartments: a cathode chamber for CO2RR, an intermediate chamber with microchannels for CO2 regeneration, and an anode chamber. This segmentation allows (bi)carbonate anions to be transported to the intermediate chamber where they are converted back to CO2, preventing loss to the anode tail gas while maintaining high reaction rates in the cathode chamber
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate chamber with microchannels acts as a mediator between the cathode and anode chambers. This intermediate structure receives (bi)carbonate anions from the cathode, facilitates their conversion to CO2 through proton conduction, and returns the regenerated CO2 to the cathode chamber, thereby preventing CO2 loss without compromising reaction productivity
2Loss of substance
If bipolar membranes or solid-state electrolyte packed beds are used to reduce CO2 loss, then CO2 regeneration is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate chamber employs a microchanneled solid electrolyte with a porous structure that allows selective ion transport. The microchannels provide pathways for (bi)carbonate anion ingress and CO2 egress while maintaining structural integrity and enabling proton conduction, achieving CO2 regeneration without requiring complex bipolar membrane assemblies or packed bed configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The solid electrolyte combines multiple functional properties in a single composite structure: anion conduction for (bi)carbonate transport, proton conduction for CO2 regeneration, and mechanical support for the microchannel structure. This composite approach simplifies the overall system compared to using separate bipolar membranes and packed beds
3Reliability
If salt accumulates within the system during CO2RR operation, then CO2RR performance and stability are limited, but removing salt requires additional system components
Solution Approach 1:
The microchanneled solid electrolyte extracts and removes salt from the system by allowing (bi)carbonate anions to be transported through the anion-conducting layer to the intermediate chamber, where they are converted back to CO2. This extraction process prevents salt accumulation in the cathode and anode chambers, maintaining system stability without requiring additional salt removal components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The MSE significantly reduces CO2 loss to the anode tail gas and electrolyte, achieving high CO2 recovery rates of up to 95% while maintaining system stability and efficiency, with minimal voltage penalty.
Implementation Method 1
an anion-conducting layer configured to conduct (bi) carbonate anions from a surface of an adjacent cathode
Implementation Method 2
a cation-conducting layer configured to conduct protons from a surface of an adjacent anode
Implementation Method 3
thereby locally regenerating and collecting CO2 along and within the microchannels
Data Source
AI summary
The present techniques relate to a microchanneled solid electrolyte (MSE), an electrolyzer and a method including or using the MSE for in-situ regeneration and collection of CO2 during a CO2 electroreduction operation. The MSE includes an anion conducting layer configured to conduct (bi) carbonate anions from a surface of an adjacent cathode; a cation conducting layer configured to conduct protons from a surface of an adjacent anode; and an integrated channel layer comprising multiple microchannels formed between the anion conducting layer and the cation conducting layer. The microchannels define a hollow path extending across the integrated channel layer for receiving the (bi) carbonate anions from the anion conducting layer and the protons from the cation conducting layer, thereby locally regenerating and collecting CO2 along and within the microchannels.