Coated Electroneutral Porous Separators for Oxocarbon Electrolyzers

An oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:

• an aqueous anode area with an aqueous oxidation substrate;
• a gaseous cathode area with an oxocarbon species as a gaseous reduction substrate;
• and
• an electroneutral separator separating the aqueous anode area and the gaseous cathode area while allowing ionic migration between the aqueous anode area and gaseous cathode area;
• wherein:
• (i) the electroneutral separator is a polymer having a coating;
• and (ii) the polymer comprises aliphatic carbon chains;
• and (iii) the coating is an aliphatic carbon chain with a hydrophilic functional group.

A method of operating an oxocarbon electrolysis reactor comprising:

• reducing an oxocarbon species in a gaseous cathode area;
• oxidizing an oxidation substrate in an aqueous anode area;
• separating the gaseous cathode area from the aqueous anode area using an electroneutral separator;
• and
• allowing ionic migration between the aqueous anode area and gaseous cathode area across the electroneutral separator;
• wherein:
• (i) the electroneutral separator is a polymer having a coating;
• and (ii) the polymer comprises aliphatic carbon chains;
• and (iii) the coating is an aliphatic carbon chain with a hydrophilic functional group.