Unveiling the Role of PTFE Surface Coverage on Controlling Gas Diffusion Layer Water Content.

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are usually coated with a hydrophobic agent to achieve a delicate balance between liquid and gas phases to maximize mass transport. Yet, most GDL numerical models to date have assumed an average contact angle for all materials, thereby eliminating the possibility of studying the role of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content. This study introduces two mixed wettability algorithms to predict the mixed wetting behavior of GDLs composed of multiple materials.

Dynamics of the Boundary Layer in Pulsed CO Electrolysis.

Electrochemical reduction of CO poses a vast potential to contribute to a defossilized industry. Despite tremendous developments within the field, mass transport limitations, carbonate salt formation, and electrode degradation mechanisms still hamper the process performance. One promising approach to tweak CO electrolysis beyond today's limitations is pulsed electrolysis with potential cycling between an operating and a regeneration mode.

Pure-Water-Fed Forward-Bias Bipolar Membrane CO Electrolyzer.

Coupling renewable electricity to reduce carbon dioxide (CO) electrochemically into carbon feedstocks offers a promising pathway to produce chemical fuels sustainably. While there has been success in developing materials and theory for CO reduction, the widespread deployment of CO electrolyzers has been hindered by challenges in the reactor design and operational stability due to CO crossover and (bi)carbonate salt precipitation. Herein, we design asymmetrical bipolar membranes assembled into a zero-gap CO electrolyzer fed with pure water, solving both challenges.