AMINE-FUNCTIONALIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES FOR GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODES
An electrode and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed. For example, the method to fabricate the electrode includes preparing a deposition composition comprising amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles and a solvent and depositing the deposition composition onto an electrically conductive substrate. The electrode can be deployed in a gas diffusion electrode.
1 . A method to fabricate an electrode, comprising:
preparing a deposition composition comprising amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles and a solvent; and
depositing the deposition composition onto an electrically conductive substrate.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sintering the amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles on the electrically conductive substrate.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the sintering is performed at temperatures from about 60 degrees Celsius (° C.) to about 200° C.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles are prepared with a compound with an amine functional group.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the amine functional group comprises at least one of: butylamine, pentylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, hexadecylamine, undecylamine, dodecylamine, tridecylamine, tetradecylamine, diaminopentane, diaminohexane, diaminoheptane, diaminooctane, diaminononane, diaminodecane, diaminooctane, dipropylamine, dibutylamine, dipentylamine, dihexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, methylpropylamine, ethylpropylamine, propylbutylamine, ethylbutylamine, ethylpentylamine, propylpentylamine, butylpentylamine, tributylamine, or trihexylamine.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is non-polar and comprises at least one of: decalin, toluene, cyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane, phenylcyclohexane, bicyclohexyl, xylenes, or butanol.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the depositing comprises:
spraying the deposition composition onto the electrically conductive substrate with a movable printhead.
8 . An electrode, comprising:
an electrically conductive substrate; and
sintered amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles on a surface of the electrically conductive substrate.
9 . The electrode of claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive substrate comprises a carbon substrate.
10 . The electrode of claim 8 , wherein about 95% to about 5% of amine remains in the sintered amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles from a deposition composition of amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles.
11 . The electrode of claim 10 , wherein the deposition composition of amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles is prepared in a jettable ink form.
12 . The electrode of claim 8 , wherein the sintered amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles comprise an amine functional group.
13 . The electrode of claim 12 , wherein the amine functional group comprises at least one of: butylamine, pentylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, hexadecylamine, undecylamine, dodecylamine, tridecylamine, tetradecylamine, diaminopentane, diaminohexane, diaminoheptane, diaminooctane, diaminononane, diaminodecane, diaminooctane, dipropylamine, dibutylamine, dipentylamine, dihexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, methylpropylamine, ethylpropylamine, propylbutylamine, ethylbutylamine, ethylpentylamine, propylpentylamine, butylpentylamine, tributylamine, or trihexylamine.
14 . The electrode of claim 8 , wherein the electrode is deployed in a gas diffusion electrode to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide.
15 . The electrode of claim 14 , wherein the electrode has a Faradic efficiency of greater than about 60% at an overpotential of less than about 3.5 Volts.
16 . The electrode of claim 14 , wherein the electrode has a selectivity of greater than about 98% at an overpotential of less than about 3.5 Volts.
17 . A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a cathode comprising amine-functionalized silver nanoparticles on an electrically conductive substrate;
an ion exchange membrane coupled to the cathode; and
an anode coupled to the ion exchange membrane.
18 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cathode comprises a single pass conversion rate of greater than about 25% at a cell potential less than about 3.5 Volts.
19 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cathode comprises a current density of greater than about 75 milliamps per square centimeter at a cell potential from about 3 Volts to about 3.5 Volts.
20 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cathode comprises an energetic efficiency of greater than about 25% at a cell potential of about 3.00 Volts.