Metallic mesh-based gas diffusion electrodes for utilization of sparingly soluble gases in electrochemical reactions with nonaqueous electrolytes

Abstract

A system and method for supplying a gas to an electrochemical system is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical system comprising:
 a housing including a chamber;   an electrode within the housing; and   a gas permeable metal on a surface of the electrode in contact with the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas inlet to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first outlet of the housing to release a product from the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes a metal mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the metal mesh includes 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 1500, or 2000 fibers per inch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes openings of between 1 and 200 micrometers, preferably between 2 and 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes metal fibers or a porous metal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes stainless steel, steel, nickel, iron, copper, silver, gold, or platinum. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes a catalytic metal, metal oxide, metal sulfide, or metal phosphide. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein gas permeable metal is exposed to a pressure gradient. 
     
     
         11 . A method of supplying a gas to an electrochemical system comprising:
 contacting a gas with a gas permeable metal on a surface of an electrode in a chamber of a housing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas is a sparingly soluble gas. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising supplying a pressure of the gas in the chamber to create a pressure differential at the electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying a voltage to the electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes a metal mesh. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the metal mesh includes 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 1500, or 2000 fibers per inch. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes openings of between 1 and 200 micrometers, preferably between 2 and 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes metal fibers or a porous metal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas permeable metal includes stainless steel, steel, nickel, iron, copper, silver, gold, or platinum. 
     
     
         20 . A method of oxidizing or reducing a gas comprising:
 contacting a gas with a gas permeable metal on a surface of an electrode.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gas is a sparingly soluble gas. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gas is hydrogen. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the ammonia is produced at a Faradaic yield of at least 30% or at least 40%. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein supplying a pressure of the gas in the chamber to create a pressure differential at the electrode. 
     
     
         26 . An electrochemical system comprising:
 a first electrode including:
 a housing including a chamber; 
 an electrode within the housing; and 
 a gas permeable metal on a surface of the electrode in contact with the chamber; and 
   a second electrode including a gas inlet to a housing including a gas permeable metal on a surface of an electrode and a first outlet to release a product from the system.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein each gas permeable metal includes a metal mesh. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein each metal mesh includes 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 1500, or 2000 fibers per inch. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein at least one gas permeable metal includes openings of between 1 and 200 micrometers, preferably between 2 and 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein at least one gas permeable metal includes metal fibers or a porous metal. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein each gas permeable metal is exposed to a pressure gradient.