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Mardle P, Gangrade A, Saatkamp T, Jiang Z, Cassegrain S, Zhao N, Shi Z, Holdcroft S. Performance and Stability of Aemion and Aemion+ Membranes in Zero-Gap CO 2 Electrolyzers with Mild Anolyte Solutions. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202202376. [PMID: 36997499 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202202376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The dependence of performance and stability of a zero-gap CO2 electrolyzer on the properties of the anion exchange membrane (AEM) is examined. This work firstly assesses the influence of the anolyte when using an Aemion membrane and then shows that when using 10 mM KHCO3 , a CO2 electrolyzer using a next-generation Aemion+ membrane can achieve lower cell voltages and longer lifetimes due to increased water permeation. The impact of lower permselectivity of Aemion+ on water transport is also discussed. Using Aemion+, a cell voltage of 3.17 V at 200 mA cm-2 is achieved at room temperature, with a faradaic efficiency of >90 %. Stable CO2 electrolysis at 100 mA cm-2 is demonstrated for 100 h, but with reduced lifetime at 300 mA cm-2 . However, the lifetime of the cell at high current densities is shown to be increased by improving water transport characteristics of the AEM and reducing dimensional swelling, as well as by improving cathode design to reduce localized dehydration of the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mardle
- Energy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Vancouver, BC V6T 1 W5, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5 A 1S6, Canada
| | - Apurva Gangrade
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5 A 1S6, Canada
| | - Torben Saatkamp
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5 A 1S6, Canada
| | - Zhengming Jiang
- Energy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Vancouver, BC V6T 1 W5, Canada
| | - Simon Cassegrain
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5 A 1S6, Canada
| | - Nana Zhao
- Energy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Vancouver, BC V6T 1 W5, Canada
| | - Zhiqing Shi
- Energy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Vancouver, BC V6T 1 W5, Canada
| | - Steven Holdcroft
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5 A 1S6, Canada
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Overton P, Konovalova A, Fraser K, Holdcroft S. The First Example of a Poly(arylimidazole) by Polycondensation of AB-type Monomers: Control of Molecular Mass by End-Capping, and Functionalization to Poly(arylimidazolium)s. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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Rakhshani S, Araneo R, Pucci A, Rinaldi A, Giuliani C, Pozio A. Synthesis and Characterization of a Composite Anion Exchange Membrane for Water Electrolyzers (AEMWE). MEMBRANES 2023; 13:membranes13010109. [PMID: 36676916 PMCID: PMC9860756 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Anion exchange membranes (AEM) have gained attention recently as a promising candidate for low-cost water electrolysis systems to produce hydrogen, linked with renewable energy resources as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The development of potential materials for producing and analyzing AEM is an imperative step towards commercialization and plays a competitive role in the hydrogen production industry. In this article, we developed a composite anion exchange membrane prepared by activating a commercial support structure (Celgard® 3401) with a commercially available functional group (Fumion® FAA-3) through a phase-inversion process. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated the phase-inversion procedure as an effective methodology. Furthermore, the cell performance test result (with Celgard/Fumion) was very promising and even better in comparison with a commercial membrane commonly applied in alkaline electrolysis (Fumasep). We also developed a testing procedure for membrane performance evaluation during electrolysis which is very critical considering the effect of CO2 absorption on membrane conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayyeh Rakhshani
- Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Araneo
- Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pucci
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Rinaldi
- ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Giuliani
- ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfonso Pozio
- ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
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A Short Overview of Biological Fuel Cells. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12040427. [PMID: 35448397 PMCID: PMC9031071 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12040427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This short review summarizes the improvements on biological fuel cells (BioFCs) with or without ionomer separation membrane. After a general introduction about the main challenges of modern energy management, BioFCs are presented including microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and enzymatic fuel cells (EFCs). The benefits of BioFCs include the capability to derive energy from waste-water and organic matter, the possibility to use bacteria or enzymes to replace expensive catalysts such as platinum, the high selectivity of the electrode reactions that allow working with less complicated systems, without the need for high purification, and the lower environmental impact. In comparison with classical FCs and given their lower electrochemical performances, BioFCs have, up to now, only found niche applications with low power needs, but they could become a green solution in the perspective of sustainable development and the circular economy. Ion exchange membranes for utilization in BioFCs are discussed in the final section of the review: they include perfluorinated proton exchange membranes but also aromatic polymers grafted with proton or anion exchange groups.
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