Electrode, electrochemical cell, and method of use thereof

Abstract

An electrode including a plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles, wherein the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles have an average coordination number between 8.9-11.6 and an average tensile strength strain of 0.14-0.81%, an electrochemical cell including the same, and methods of use thereof and preparation thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode comprising: a plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles, wherein the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles have an average coordination number between 8.9-11.6 and an average tensile strength strain of 0.14-0.81%. 
     
     
         2 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles comprise a plurality of stacking faults and a plurality of grain boundaries. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles have an average diameter of 10-50 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles have an average coordination number 9.2-9.8 and an average tensile strength strain of 0.56-0.81%. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality metallic silver nanoparticles have an average coordination number about 9.2 and an average tensile strength strain of about 0.81%. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles are prepared by a method comprising: contacting AgNO 3 , octadecylamine, oleylamine, and trioctylphosphine thereby forming the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles are prepared by a method comprising: contacting AgNO 3 , octadecylamine, and an organic solvent at 60-100° C. thereby forming a silver-based stock solution; contacting the silver-based stock solution, oleylamine, and trioctylphosphine at 100-200° C. thereby forming the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles are not annealed at a temperature greater than 250° C. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode further comprises a base electrode or a substrate, wherein the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles are disposed on a surface of the base electrode or the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate comprises a gas permeable metal mesh. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing the electrode of  claim 9 , the method comprising: depositing a solution comprising the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles, a binder, and a solvent on the surface of the substrate thereby forming a coated substrate and calcining the coated substrate thereby forming the electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solvent comprises an organic solvent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solution is deposited by screen printing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising compressing the coated substrate prior to calcining the coated substrate. 
     
     
         15 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 the electrode of  claim 1 ;   a counter electrode; and   an electrolyte solution comprising an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte solution is between and in contact with the electrode and the counter electrode.   
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrode further comprises a base electrode or a substrate, wherein the plurality of metallic silver nanoparticles are disposed on a surface of the base electrode or the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the base electrode is selected from the group consisting of a glassy carbon electrode, a graphite electrode, an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode, a carbon paper electrode, a carbon fiber electrode, a polycarbonate track etch (PCTE)-based electrode, and a titanium-based electrode; and the substrate comprises a gas permeable metal mesh. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrolyte comprises water and optionally a metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15  further comprising at least one ion exchange membrane disposed between the electrode and the counter electrode. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15  further comprising an anion exchange membrane and a proton exchange membrane, wherein the electrode is in contact with the anion exchange membrane, the anode is in contact with the proton exchange membrane, and the anion exchange membrane and proton exchange membrane are in contact with each other. 
     
     
         21 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 15 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a CO 2  inlet in fluid communication with the electrode and a water inlet in fluid communication with the counter electrode. 
     
     
         22 . A method for reducing carbon dioxide, the method comprising:
 providing the electrochemical cell of  claim 15 ;   contacting CO 2  and the electrode and contacting water and the counter electrode; and   applying an electric current between the electrode and the counter electrode resulting in electrolytic reduction of the CO 2  thereby forming CO.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrochemical cell has a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO of 90-99%.