Method for the preparation of a gas diffusion layer and a gas diffusion layer obtained or obtainable by such method

A method for preparation of a gas diffusion electrode, containing the steps of:

• a) preparing a carrier-binder paste comprising a solvent, a fluorinated binder and conductive carrier particles;
• b) preparing an adhesive composition comprising
• a solvent,
• a fluorinated binder and
• essentially no or equal to or less than 15 wt. % of conductive carrier particles, based on the total weight of the fluorinated binder in the adhesive composition and the conductive carrier particles in the adhesive composition;
• c) combining a layer of supporting material, a layer of the adhesive composition and a layer of the carrier-binder paste, wherein the layer of the adhesive composition is applied between the layer of supporting material and the layer of the carrier-binder paste, wherein the layer of the carrier-binder paste has a thickness in a range from equal to or more than 1.1 mm to equal to or less than 1.5 mm;
• and
• pressing the combination of supporting material, adhesive composition and carrier-binder paste at a pressure of at least 15 kilopascal and/or heating the combination of supporting material, adhesive composition and carrier-binder paste at a temperature of at least 300° C.;
• and
• d) applying a catalytic layer, which catalytic layer comprises a catalyst, onto the layer of the carrier-binder paste on a side opposite of a side where the layer of the adhesive composition was applied
• wherein the carrier-binder paste comprises equal to or less than 0.3 grams fluorinated binder per milliliter of solvent, and wherein the adhesive composition comprises equal to or more than 0.3 grams fluorinated binder per milliliter of solvent.

A process for electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide, comprising:

• introducing an anolyte to a first cell compartment of an electrochemical cell, the first cell compartment comprising an anode;
• introducing a catholyte and carbon dioxide to a second cell compartment of the electrochemical cell, the second cell compartment comprising a cathode;
• and
• applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to reduce the carbon dioxide to a reduced reaction product,
• wherein the cathode comprises a gas diffusion layer, the gas diffusion layer
• obtained by a method containing the steps of:
• a) preparing a carrier-binder paste comprising a solvent, a fluorinated binder and conductive carrier particles;
• b) preparing an adhesive composition comprising:
• a solvent,
• a fluorinated binder and
• essentially no or equal to or less than 15 wt. % of conductive carrier particles, based on the total weight of the fluorinated binder in the adhesive composition and the conductive carrier particles in the adhesive composition;
• and
• c) combining a layer of supporting material, a layer of the adhesive composition
• and a layer of the carrier-binder paste, wherein the layer of the adhesive
• composition is applied between the layer of supporting material and the layer of
• the carrier-binder paste, wherein the layer of the carrier-binder paste has a thickness in a range from equal to or more than 1.1 mm to equal to or less than 1.5 mm;
• and
• pressing the combination of supporting material, adhesive composition and carrier-binder paste at a pressure of at least 15 kilopascal and/or
• heating the combination of supporting material, adhesive composition and carrier-binder paste at a temperature of at least 300° C.;
• wherein the carrier-binder paste comprises equal to or less than 0.3 grams fluorinated binder per milliliter of solvent, and wherein the adhesive composition comprises equal to or more than 0.3 grams fluorinated binder per milliliter of solvent.