Filter-press photoelectrochemical water oxidation and co2 reduction cell

A filter-press photoelectrochemical cell comprising:

• a) a cathodic compartment (1) which comprises a cathode support frame (150) comprising a cathodic material (4) which acts as a cathode;
• a first fluid and gaseous CO2 distribution frame (6) and a second fluid and gaseous CO2 distribution frame (7);
• one or more cathodic gaskets (81, 82, 83 and 84) , the cathodic gaskets being placed between the cathode support frame (150) and the distribution frames (6, 7), and as lateral ends of the cathodic compartment;
• wherein the cathode support frame (150) is disposed between the first and second distribution frames (6;
• 7);
• b) an anodic compartment (2) which comprises an anode support frame (250) comprising an anodic material (5) which acts as an anode;
• a fluid distribution frame (8) arranged such that the fluid distribution frame (8) is on a portion of the anodic compartment closer to the membrane (3) than the anode support frame (250);
• and one or more anodic gaskets (85 and 86), the anodic gaskets being placed between the anode support frame (250) and the distribution frame (8), and as lateral ends of the anodic compartment;
• and
• c) an ion-exchange membrane (3) disposed between the cathodic compartment (1) and the anodic compartment (2);
• wherein
• i) the cathodic material (4) is a conductive porous electrode with immobilized CO2 electrocatalyst material;
• ii) the first and second fluid and gaseous CO2 distribution frames (6, 7) and cathodic gaskets (81, 82, 83 and 84) are arranged such that in use they allow introducing a catholyte and gaseous CO2 separately into the cathodic compartment (1) through different inlet ports (11a, 11b) and they allow exiting the catholyte, liquid and gaseous products and/or unreacted CO2 jointly through an outlet port (12);
• iii) the fluid distribution frame (8), the anode support frame (250) and anodic gaskets (85 and 86) are arranged in such a way that in use they allow introducing an anolyte into the anodic compartment (2) through an inlet port (13), and they allow exiting the anolyte and oxidation products jointly through an outlet port (14);
• iv) the anodic material (5), is a photocatalytic anodic material, and is located in a side facing the membrane (3) of an optical window (15) of the anode support frame (250);
• and is arranged such that in use is able to be in contact with the anolyte which is introduced into the anodic compartment via the inlet port (13) and, is able to be activated when the radiation used to irradiate the anodic compartment (2) reaches the optical window (15) by its opposite side which is not facing the membrane (3);
• and
• v) the photocatalytic anodic material (5) and the gas diffusion cathodic material (4) have a surface area ratio comprised from 1:1 to 1:0.1.