Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to value-added products at copper/graphene composite catalysts

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The present project builds on Sigma Energy Storage's HT-CAES technology to integrate a CO2 processingmodule to provide increased efficacy and environmental benefits. Normally, the HT-CAES system compressesambient air as the energy storage medium, but under Arctic conditions, using diesel exhaust in place of ambientair as the working fluid for compressed air energy storage, leads to the capture and liquefaction up to 58% ofCO2 from diesel exhaust. The liquefied CO2 can then be stored before being injected into an electrolyser,converting it into valuable fuels. The goal of this project is to develop a sustainable electrochemical processthat will convert CO2 into valuable fuels via the CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR), ideally ethanol which canbe reused in the diesel generators to further reduce diesel consumption.To assess the electrocatalytic properties of the SES' copper/graphene nanoparticles towards CO2 conversion,we propose to develop an electrochemical cell, inspired from the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)technology, coupled with analytical methods to detect and quantify the nature of formed products. For thispurpose, an electrochemical cell already used for previous CO2RR studies inside Daniel's Guay Laboratory willbe modified for MEA insertion. Reaction parameters and electrochemical properties will be systematicallyevaluated by probing different catalysts in the MEA configuration. Gaseous products out of the CO2electrolyser will be sampled by GC analyses while aqueous products will be analysed by NMR spectroscopy.Careful attention will be devoted to the MEA design to enhance the number of available electrocatalyticallyactive sites. Finally, the operating conditions will be varied to maximize the formation of desired products(ethanol, as required by SES).The development of the electrochemical CO2 conversion technology has the potential for significant benefitsfor Canada in terms of development of on-site CO2 valorization to value-added products and highly efficientrenewable energy systems to reduce both diesel consumption and CO2 emissions.