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

目前的项目以Sigma Energy Storage的HT-CAES技术为基础，集成了一个二氧化碳处理模块，以提高效率和环境效益。通常情况下，HT-CAES系统压缩环境空气作为储能介质，但在北极条件下，使用柴油废气代替环境空气作为压缩空气储能的工作流体，可捕获和液化高达58%的柴油废气中的二氧化碳。液化后的二氧化碳可以储存起来，然后注入电解槽，将其转化为有价值的燃料。该项目的目标是开发一种可持续的电化学过程，通过二氧化碳还原反应（CO2RR）将二氧化碳转化为有价值的燃料，理想情况下，乙醇可以在柴油发电机中重复使用，以进一步减少柴油消耗。为了评估SES的铜/石墨烯纳米颗粒对二氧化碳转化的电催化性能，我们建议开发一种电化学电池，灵感来自膜电极组装（MEA）技术，并结合分析方法来检测和量化形成产物的性质。为此，Daniel’s Guay实验室中已经用于CO2RR研究的电化学电池将被修改以插入MEA。反应参数和电化学性能将通过探测不同的催化剂在MEA配置进行系统评价。从co2电解槽中放出的气态产物将通过气相色谱分析取样，而水产物将通过核磁共振光谱分析。将仔细注意MEA设计，以增加可用电催化活性位点的数量。最后，将改变操作条件，以最大限度地形成所需的产品（乙醇，如SES所要求的）。电化学二氧化碳转化技术的发展对于加拿大的发展具有巨大的潜力，可以在现场将二氧化碳转化为增值产品和高效的可再生能源系统，以减少柴油消耗和二氧化碳排放。

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.