Modeling and Experimental Validation of Electrochemical Reduction of CO₂to CO in a Microfluidic Cell

Abstract

A steady-state isothermal model is presented for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO in a microfluidic flow cell. The full cell model integrates the transport of charge, mass, and momentum with electrochemistry for both the cathode and anode. Polarization curves obtained from experiments conducted at different flow rates with varying applied cell potentials are used to determine the kinetic parameters in the electrochemical reaction rate equations. The parameterized model is validated using a different set of experimental results. Good agreement is observed, especially at high cell potentials (-2.5 to -3 V). The model is further used to analyze the effects of several operating parameters, such as applied cell potential, CO 2 concentration of the feed and feed flow rates. The use of the model to analyze the effect of design parameters, such as channel length and porosity of the gas diffusion electrodes, is also demonstrated.) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP F28 Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 162 (1) F23-F32 (2015) ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 162 (1) F23-F32 (2015) ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IPOn page F28, left column, Figure 2 should beFigure 2. Comparison of polarization curves for (a) parameter fitting and (b) model validation. Feed gas flow rate and compositions are specified inTable 2. Other operating conditions take the base case values in Table 1. ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP

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