Electrochemical synthesis of fuels by CO2 hydrogenation on Cu in a potassium ion conducting membrane reactor at bench scale

A Review of Surface Analysis Techniques for the Investigation of the Phenomenon of Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysis with Alkaline Ionic Conductors

“…Urquhart et al used other K + -conductor solid electrolyte (K-βAl 2 O 3 ) in Fischer-Tropsch reaction studies under both atmospheric [21] and high pressure [22], and de Lucas-Consuegra et al introduced the use of this kind of ion-conducting catalyst support for the electrochemical promotion of Pt in CO [23] and propylene [24] oxidation, as well as in NO x reduction reactions [25,26]. More recent alkaline electrochemical promotion studies on CO 2 hydrogenation [27][28][29][30] and methanol conversion reactions [31][32][33] should also be highlighted. Additionally, in order to understand the mechanism of the phenomenon of electrochemical promotion of catalysis with both anionic and cationic conductors, a wide variety of characterization techniques have been used in the fields of catalysis (e.g., TPD, TPO, or work function measurement), electrochemistry (e.g., cyclic/linear sweep voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy), and surface science (e.g., XPS, UPS, SPEM, or STM) [3].…”

“…Urquhart et al used other K + -conductor solid electrolyte (K-βAl2O3) in Fischer-Tropsch reaction studies under both atmospheric [21] and high pressure [22], and de Lucas-Consuegra et al introduced the use of this kind of ion-conducting catalyst support for the electrochemical promotion of Pt in CO [23] and propylene [24] oxidation, as well as in NOx reduction reactions [25,26]. More recent alkaline electrochemical promotion studies on CO2 hydrogenation [27][28][29][30] and methanol conversion reactions [31][32][33] should Vayenas et al performed the first electrochemical promotion study with alkaline solid electrolyte (Na-βAl 2 O 3 ) in 1991 [8]. From this pioneer work, Na + -conductors have been widely employed in many catalytic systems such as ethylene [9,10], CO [11], propane [12] and propylene oxidation [13], NO reduction [14][15][16], Fischer Tropsch synthesis [17], or hydrogenation of benzene [18] and CO 2 [19].…”

Electrochemical activation of an oblique angle deposited Cu catalyst film for H2 production

“…29 They have also been used for different energy related applications including photoelectrochemical cells, 29 solid-state hydrogen storage 32 and electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells 33 and 2-propanol oxidation in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. 7,27 However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this non-noble metal catalyst is electrochemically promoted in a H 2 production reaction. This exothermic reaction is especially interesting for on board H 2 production due to the liquid nature of methanol, its high H/C ratio and its availability from a wide variety of sources.…”

“…The Cu/K-βAl 2 O 3 /Au solid electrolyte cell was tested in the methanol partial oxidation reaction with a feed composition of CH 3 OH/O 2 = 4.4%/0.3% at 320°C in order to study the phenomenon of electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC). One can find in the literature a wide range of positive unpromoted potentials employed in alkali-based electropromoted systems, from +0.1 V 24 or +0.7 V, 40 up to +3 V 12 or +4 V. 27 In the present study, a positive potential of 1 V was selected as the lowest possible value to avoid the deterioration of the catalyst film and/or the solid electrolyte, while providing a completely reversible promotional effect. Fig.…”

“…2 This phenomenon has been applied with a large variety of catalysts and solid electrolytes (cationic, anionic or mixed conductors) in a wide variety of catalytic reactions of industrial and environmental interest. 7,[24][25][26][27] A summary of these studies along with the studied catalytic reaction in each case is reported in Table 1. With regard to the former, increasingly more compact and efficient reactor designs based, for example, on monolithic configurations or hollow fibre membranes can be found in the literature.…”