Electrochemical reduction of CO2 has been pointed out as an interesting strategy to convert CO2 into useful chemicals. In addition, coupling CO2 electroreduction with renewable energies would allow storing electricity from intermittent renewable sources such as wind or solar power. In this work, an easy and fast method is adapted for the synthesis of pure and carbon supported Sn nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy and their electrocatalytic properties towards CO2 reduction evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. Carbon supported Sn nanoparticles have been subsequently used to prepare Gas Diffusion Electrodes (Sn/C-GDEs). The electrodes have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and also by cyclic voltammetry. Finally, the electrodes were tested on a continuous and single pass CO2 electroreduction filter-press type cell system in aqueous solution, to obtain formate at ambient pressure and temperature. These Sn/CGDEs allow working at high current densities with low catholyte flow. Thus, for instance, at 150 mA cm(-2), a 70% Faradaic Efficiency (FE) was obtained with a formate concentration of 2.5 g L-1. Interestingly, by increasing the current density to 200 mA cm(-2) and decreasing the flow rate, a concentration over 16 g L-1 was reached. Despite the high concentrations obtained, further research is still required to keep high FE operating at high current densities. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
机构:
Hong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R ChinaHong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
An, L.
;
Chen, R.
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Chongqing Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Low Grade Energy Utilizat Technol & Syst, Chongqing 400030, Peoples R China
Chongqing Univ, Inst Engn Thermophys, Chongqing 400030, Peoples R ChinaHong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
机构:
Hong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R ChinaHong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
An, L.
;
Chen, R.
论文数: 0引用数: 0
h-index: 0
机构:
Chongqing Univ, Minist Educ, Key Lab Low Grade Energy Utilizat Technol & Syst, Chongqing 400030, Peoples R China
Chongqing Univ, Inst Engn Thermophys, Chongqing 400030, Peoples R ChinaHong Kong Polytech Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China