Developments in electrode design: structure, decoration and applications of electrodes for electrochemical technology

Abstract

The diversity of cell geometries and their use for electrochemical processing and energy conversion are concisely reviewed, updating earlier treatments, with an emphasis on an engineering approach to electrode design. Electrode size varies from several cm2 in the laboratory to stacks containing hundreds of m2 at the industrial plant scale, and currents can range from nA at laboratory to many 100 kA in industry. Electrode materials include metals, conductive ceramics and polymers, as well as polymer–metal or ceramic–metal composites. Area, electrocatalytic activity and functionality can be tailored by selecting an appropriate support structure‐coating combination. The core structure of porous supports can be a foam, mesh or particulate bed, whereas the surface can be enhanced using numerous techniques. Inspiration for electrode design can come from multiple sources, including biomimetics and technology transfer. Important aspects of electrodes include manufacture, electrochemical activity, active area, the possibilities of 3D and nanostructured surfaces, decoration and functionalization, in addition to reasonable cost and adequate lifetime. The diversity of electrodes is illustrated by examples from the authors' laboratory in the fields of inorganic and organic synthesis, environmental remediation of wastewaters, surface finishing of materials and energy storage/conversion. A forward look is made to potential future developments in electrochemical technology. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Advances and challenges in electrochemical CO2reduction processes: an engineering and design perspective looking beyond new catalyst materials

“…Recently, Shojaeefard et al, 145 Weber et al, 146 and Fadzillah et al 147 reviewed the electrode microstructure restructuring and pore-scale simulations. Moreover, Lai et al 148 and Walsh et al 149 reviewed the design and fabrication of general 3D-structured electrodes, including the 3D-electrode architecture and decoration of catalysts.…”

Developments in plane parallel flow channel cells

“…Productive electrodes can be produced by a suitable combination of structure, surface area and electrocatalytic activity, which can be incorporated by a functional layer applied to the substrate material. Diverse coating and decorating techniques exist, permitting the fabrication of tailored porous electrodes with enhanced properties [22], some of them with hierarchical structures. Electrochemical surface finishing processes, such as anodising, electroplating, electroless deposition, galvanic replacement and electrophoresis can be used to coat and decorate varied substrates [23].…”

Three-Dimensional Cathodes for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2: From Macro- to Nano-Engineering

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