Electrolysis cell and method of use
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorTrent M. Molter
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Abstract
The present invention discloses an improved solid polymer electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide. The improvement being the use of a cathode having a metal phthalocyanine catalyst which results in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen during the reduction process and the subsequent improved conversion efficiency for carbon dioxide.
Claims27
An improved electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide having an anode, a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte, the improvement comprising a primary carbon dioxide reducing cathode containing a catalytic material having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum and a secondary carbon dioxide reducing cathode having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum thereby resulting in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen gas and improved efficiency for the reduction of carbon dioxide.
A method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrolysis cell having an anode a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising;
- contacting the anode with a hydrogen containing material,
- converting said hydrogen containing material to hydrogen ions,
- transporting said hydrogen ions through the solid polymer electrolyte to the cathode;
- contacting the cathode with carbon dioxide;
- thereby causing the carbon dioxide to react with the hydrogen ions to form organic compounds wherein the improvement comprises a cathode having a primary and secondary cathode wherein said primary cathode comprises a metal phthalocyanine and said secondary cathode comprises materials capable of reducing carbon dioxide and also having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.