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  • Review Article
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Gas diffusion electrodes and membranes for CO2 reduction electrolysers

Nature Reviews Materials volume 7, pages 55–64 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a potential means of using renewable electricity to synthesize commodity chemicals and fuels. The CO2RR can be performed at industrially relevant product formation rates in an electrolyser, which must simultaneously manage the transport of electrons, water, CO2 and protons at a cathode. Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and polymer electrolyte membranes are used to mediate these critical processes. Consequently, the design and development of GDEs and membranes tailored for the CO2RR is critical. In this Review, we discuss how the properties of GDEs and polymer electrolyte membranes affect CO2RR electrolysis.

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Fig. 1: GDEs and membranes manage mass transport and reactions to mediate the CO2RR in electrolysers.
Fig. 2: The properties of the gas diffusion electrode modulate the chemical environment around the electrocatalyst.
Fig. 3: The properties of the PEM influence cathode chemistry and the efficiency of CO2 reduction reaction electrolysers.
Fig. 4: CO2 crossover in a zero-gap membrane CO2RR electrolyser.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Eric W. Lees & Curtis P. Berlinguette

  2. Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Benjamin A. W. Mowbray, Fraser G. L. Parlane & Curtis P. Berlinguette

  3. Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Fraser G. L. Parlane & Curtis P. Berlinguette

  4. Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON, Canada

    Curtis P. Berlinguette

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Lees, E.W., Mowbray, B.A.W., Parlane, F.G.L. et al. Gas diffusion electrodes and membranes for CO2 reduction electrolysers. Nat Rev Mater 7, 55–64 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00356-2

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