A Nature publication reports production of nearly 100% pure formic acid from electrochemically reduced CO2 in a solid-state reactor using Sustainion® Anion Exchange Membranes.
A group of researchers from Rice and collaborating universities published the paper titled “Electrochemical CO2 reduction to high concentration pure formic acid solutions in an all-solid-state reactor” in the Nature Communications citing impressive results.
The cathode and anode were separated by a porous solid electrolyte (PSE) layer, where electrochemically generated formate and proton were recombined to form molecular formic acid. The role of the Sustainion® Anion Membrane is illustrated by the diagram below.
These impressive results are summarized with a high activity (formate partial current densities ~450 mA cm−2), selectivity (maximal Faradaic efficiency ~97%), and stability (100 hours) due to a grain boundary-enriched bismuth catalyst.
Moreover, Dioxide Materials has also published works on high efficiency electrochemical formic acid generation. Our recent review journal article shows even better long-term stability of over 500 hrs using Sustainion membranes and ionomers.
Sustainion® Anion Exchange Membranes have helped researchers achieve extraordinary results and have shown superior performance than other commercial anion exchange membranes.
You can purchase Sustainion® membranes and our complete range of products on our webstore.