# US 12,760,431 B2 · Metal-organic framework on gas diffusion electrode

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- Number: US 12,760,431 B2
- Document ID: US12760431B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/828,646
- Filed: 2022-05-31
- Published: 2022-12-15
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-10
- Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Inventors: Mircea Dinca; Ruperto Mariano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760431B2

## CPC

- C25B 11/032: Gas diffusion electrodes
- C25B 1/30: Peroxides
- C25B 11/048: Organic compounds
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)

## Abstract

An electrode with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) layer and a metal-organic framework (MOF) layer. The electrode overcomes mass transport limits by providing a gas diffusion pathway to conductive MOF electrodes. At the same applied potential, this translates to a tenfold improvement in current density (greater than 100 mA cm−2) relative to conventional conductive MOF electrode geometries (less than 1 mA cm−2).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrode comprising:
a metal-organic framework layer that forms a gas diffusion electrode layer;
a hydrophobic layer that consists of a hydrophobic polymer;
a porous layer that is contiguous with the hydrophobic layer; and
wherein the hydrophobic layer is disposed between, and contiguous with, both the porous layer and the metal-organic framework layer, the metal-organic framework layer having an upper surface that is exposed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode as recited in claim 1, wherein the gas diffusion electrode layer has a thickness less than 0.5 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrode as recited in claim 1, wherein the gas diffusion electrode layer has a thickness less than 0.25 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrode as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal-organic framework layer comprises a metal-organic framework (MOF) formed from a metal ion coordinated to at least one organic linker and the MOF is a crystalline network.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electrode as recited in claim 4, wherein the metal ion is a nickel ion, a copper ion, a manganese ion or a cobalt ion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electrode as recited in claim 5, wherein the organic linker is a hexasubstituted triphenylene ligand.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The electrode as recited in claim 5, wherein the organic linker is selected from a group consisting of hexaiminotriphenylene (HITP), tetrathiafulvalene tetrabenzoate (TTFTB) and hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP).

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The electrode as recited in claim 4, wherein the MOF is present on the upper surface at a concentration of at least 0.1 mg per square cm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The electrode as recited in claim 4, wherein the metal ion is a nickel ion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electrode as recited in claim 9, wherein the organic linker is hexaiminotriphenylene (HITP).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electrode as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal-organic framework layer further comprises a hydrophobic polymer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode as recited in claim 1.

### Claim 13

A method for performing electrolysis, the method comprising:
introducing a gaseous substrate into an electrochemical cell;
providing electricity to the electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises:
a first electrode comprising (1) a metal-organic framework layer that forms a gas diffusion electrode layer; (2) a hydrophobic layer that consists of a hydrophobic polymer; and (3) a porous layer that is contiguous with the hydrophobic layer; wherein the hydrophobic layer is disposed between, and contiguous with, both the porous layer and the metal-organic framework layer, the metal-organic framework layer having an upper surface that is exposed;
a second electrode; and
a liquid electrolyte solution, the gaseous substrate being dissolved in the liquid electrolyte solution.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the metal-organic framework layer comprises a metal-organic framework (MOF) formed from a metal ion coordinated to at least one organic linker and the MOF is a crystalline network.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the gaseous substrate is oxygen and the liquid electrolyte solution comprises water.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the metal ion is a nickel ion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the organic linker is hexa minotriphenylene (HITP).

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the metal-organic framework layer further comprises a hydrophobic polymer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the gaseous substrate is carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The electrode as recited in claim 1, wherein the porous layer is carbon cloth or carbon paper.