A method for efficient electrocatalytic synthesis of pure liquid product solutions including h2o2, oxygenates, ammonia, and so on

Abstract

A porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell and corresponding related process for the direct synthesis of high purity liquid products wherein the electrosynthesis cell comprises a cathode compartment including a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst for specific reduction reactions. The electrosynthesis cell further includes an anode compartment including an anode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a catalyst for oxidation reactions; and a solid electrolyte compartment comprising a porous solid electrolyte; a cation exchange membrane; and an anion exchange membrane; (or two cation exchange membranes) wherein the solid electrolyte compartment is separated from the cathode and the anode by the anion exchange membrane and the cation exchange membrane (or by the two cation exchange membranes).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell for direct synthesis of high purity liquid products wherein the electrosynthesis cell comprises:
 a cathode compartment including a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst for specific reduction reactions wherein the reduction reactions comprise oxygen reduction reactions, CO 2  reduction reactions, CO reduction reactions, N 2  reduction reactions, nitrate reduction reactions and nitrite reduction reactions;   an anode compartment including an anode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a catalyst for oxidation reactions;   a solid electrolyte compartment comprising a porous solid electrolyte;   a cation exchange membrane; and   an anion exchange membrane;   wherein the solid electrolyte compartment is separated from the cathode and the anode by the anion exchange membrane and the cation exchange membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of carbon, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), an oxide, or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 2 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of oxidized carbon black, Bi, Co, Pd, In, Pb, Sn, and Cu, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), an oxide, or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is a single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), and wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd, Co, and Mn. 
     
     
         5 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the specific oxidation reactions include hydrogen oxidation reactions, water oxidation reactions or other oxidation reactions. 
     
     
         6 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst loaded on the anode is as least one or more selected from carbon, Ru, Ir, Pt, Ni, Fe, Ce or a mixture and/or oxide, chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst and the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst loaded on the gas diffusion layers are in close contact with the cation and anion exchange membranes. 
     
     
         8 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the anion exchange membrane is a copolymer of polystyrene and polystyrene methyl imidazolium chloride. 
     
     
         9 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the cation exchange membrane is a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous solid electrolyte is selected from an inorganic ceramic solid electrolyte, a polymer/ceramic hybrid solid electrolyte, solidified gel electrolytes, or ion conducting polymers. 
     
     
         11 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous solid electrolyte is selected from a group of ion conducting polymers including polymers or copolymers of styrene, acrylic acid, or aromatic polymers. 
     
     
         12 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous solid electrolyte is a porous styrene divinylbenzene copolymer consisting of sulfonic acid functional groups for cation conduction, or quaternary amino functional groups for anion conduction. 
     
     
         13 . A process for producing high purity and concentrated liquid products through electrocatalytic reaction in an electrosynthesis cell comprising:
 a cathode compartment including a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a selective electrocatalyst for selective reduction reactions;   an anode compartment including an anode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a catalyst for oxidation reactions;   a solid electrolyte compartment comprising a porous solid electrolyte, an inlet, and an outlet;   a cation exchange membrane; and   an anion exchange membrane;   wherein a hydrogen gas or water solutions are supplied to the anode to be electrochemically oxidized on the oxidation reaction catalysts;   an oxygen, CO 2 , CO, or N 2  containing gas is supplied to the cathode to be selectively reduced by the selective reduction reaction catalyst;   wherein the solid electrolyte compartment is separated from the cathode and the anode by the anion exchange membrane and the cation exchange membrane and deionized water or N 2  gas is supplied to an inlet of the solid electrolyte compartment to flow through the porous solid electrolyte to bring out the generated liquid product.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , where the anode reaction gas or fluid is selected from H 2 , H 2 O, or other related reactants. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , where the cathode reaction gas or fluid is selected from O 2 , CO 2 , CO, N 2 , nitrate, nitrite, or other related reactants. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of carbon, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), or an oxide thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of oxidized carbon black, Bi, Co, Pd, In, Pb, Sn, Cu, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), an oxide, or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein an electric current is passed through the electrosynthesis cell to electrochemically oxidize the hydrogen containing gas or fluid, water solutions, or other reactants. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein an electric current is passed through the electrosynthesis cell to electrochemically reduce the oxygen, CO 2 , CO, N 2 , nitrate, nitrite, or other reactant containing gas or fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst loaded on the anode is as least one or more selected from carbon, Ru, Ir, Pt, Ni, Fe, Ce or a mixture and/or oxide or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst and the reduction reaction electrocatalysts loaded on the gas diffusion layers are in close contact with the cation and anion exchange membranes. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the porous solid electrolyte is a porous styrene divinylbenzene copolymer consisting of sulfonic acid functional groups for cation conduction, or quaternary amino functional groups for anion conduction. 
     
     
         23 . A porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell for direct synthesis of high purity liquid products wherein the porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell comprises:
 a cathode compartment including a cathode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst for specific reduction reactions wherein the reduction reactions comprise oxygen reduction reactions, CO 2  reduction reactions, CO reduction reactions, N 2  reduction reactions, nitrate reduction reactions and nitrite reduction reactions;   an anode compartment including an anode electrode comprising a gas diffusion layer loaded with a catalyst for oxidation reactions;   a solid electrolyte compartment comprising a porous solid electrolyte;   a first cation exchange membrane; and   a second cation exchange membrane;   wherein the solid electrolyte compartment is separated from the each of the cathode and the anode by the first and second cation exchange membranes.   
     
     
         24 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of carbon, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), an oxide, or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 24 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is one or more selected from the group of oxidized carbon black, Bi, Co, Pd, In, Pb, Sn, and Cu, transition metals, single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), an oxide, or chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst of the cathode is a single atom catalysts of transition metals anchored into carbon nanotubes (CNT), and wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd, Co, and Mn. 
     
     
         27 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein the specific oxidation reactions include hydrogen oxidation reactions, water oxidation reactions or other oxidation reactions. 
     
     
         28 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst loaded on the anode is as least one or more selected from carbon, Ru, Jr, Pt, Ni, Fe, Ce or a mixture and/or oxide, chalcogenides thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein the oxidation reaction catalyst and the selective reduction reaction electrocatalyst loaded on the gas diffusion layers are in close contact with the first and second cation exchange membranes. 
     
     
         30 . The porous solid electrolyte electrosynthesis cell of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first or second cation exchange membranes are a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane.