膜电极构型CO2还原电解单池的稳定性研究

电化学还原CO₂可实现CO₂的资源化转化,是缓解因其过度排放所导致诸多环境问题的关键技术. 本文提出了一种膜电极（membrane electrode assembly,MEA）构型CO₂还原电解单池的结构设计,可同步实现气体扩散阴极两侧CO₂的供给与电解质液层的更新. 基于该MEA构型电解池,实验考察了电解质液层中KHCO₃浓度和更新与否对氮掺杂石墨烯锚定的Ni电极表面CO₂电还原制备CO的反应活性、产物分布与稳定性的影响. 结果表明,若电流密度低于5 mA·cm^-2,KHCO₃浓度显著影响电解电势而非产物分布. CO₂还原电解单池在稳定运行中存在着“可逆”与“不可逆”两种衰减模式. 其中,阴极/电解质界面处催化剂的流失是 “不可逆”衰减形成的原因;而电解质液层中KHCO₃溶液的流失导致了MEA构型CO₂还原单池的“可逆”衰减,周期性更新KHCO₃电解质是降低其“可逆”衰减的有效方法.

Stability Studies for a Membrane Electrode Assembly Type CO2 Electro-Reduction Electrolytic Cell

Electro-catalytic reduction is an efficient way to achieve resourcable transformation of CO₂, which is one of the important techniques to solve the global environmental problems originated from excessive CO₂ emission. In this study, a membrane electrode assembly(MEA) type CO₂ electro-reduction electrolytic cell was constucted, which enables CO₂ feeding and real-time KHCO₃ aqueous updating on both sides of the cathode gas diffusion electrode (GDE). By means of the electrolytic cell, effects of KHCO₃ concentration and updating inside the liquid electrolytic chamber on CO₂ electro-reduction activity, production distribution and stability were investigated. The experimental results suggested that the KHCO₃ concentration exerted strong influence on the cell voltage rather than the production distribution for the current densities lower than 5 mA·cm^-2. The performance of MEA type CO₂ electro-reduction cell decayed in both “reversible” and “irreversible” ways. Catalysts leaking at the GDE/liquid electrolyte interface might be respossible for the cell “irreversible” decay. Meanwhile, th leakage of KHCO₃ aqueous electrolyte arose from gas accumulation in the liquid electrolytic chamber contributed to the “reversible” degradation, which could be recovered effectively by updating the KHCO₃ aqueous electrolyte.