MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR COx REDUCTION
Provided herein are membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for CO x reduction. According to various embodiments, the MEAs are configured to address challenges particular to CO x including managing water in the MEA. Bipolar and anion-exchange membrane (AEM)-only MEAs are described along with components thereof and related methods of fabrication.
1 .- 20 . (canceled)
21 . A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for CO 2 electrolysis, comprising:
a cathode layer;
an anode layer; and
a bipolar membrane disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein the bipolar membrane comprises a cation-conducting polymer layer and an anion-conducting polymer layer, wherein the cation-conducting polymer layer is disposed between the anode layer and the anion-conducting polymer layer, wherein the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is between 2 micrometers and 80 micrometers, and wherein a ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 90:1.
22 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is at least 5 micrometers.
23 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 50 micrometers.
24 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 30 micrometers.
25 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 50.8:1.
26 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 13:1.
27 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 7:1.
28 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 3:1.
29 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 2:1.
30 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 1:1.
31 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer to the thickness of the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 1:1.5.
32 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the MEA is configured such that water is transported from the anode to the cathode through the bipolar membrane, and wherein a net moles of water moved from the anode to the cathode per charge is less than or equal to 3.07.
33 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 32 , wherein a net moles of water moved from the anode to the cathode per charge is less than or equal to 2.44.
34 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 32 , wherein a net moles of water moved from the anode to the cathode per charge is less than or equal to 1.25.
35 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer is no more than 200 micrometers.
36 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer is no more than 120 micrometers.
37 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer is no more than 50 micrometers.
38 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the cation-conducting polymer layer and/or the anion-conducting polymer layer is no more than 20 micrometers.
39 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the anion-conducting polymer layer comprises anion-conducting polymer having a molecular weight of at least 30 kg/mol.
40 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 21 , wherein the cation-conducting polymer layer is porous, and wherein the cation-conducting polymer layer comprises inert filler particles.