Twelve Benefit Corporation

Other

Sichao Ma

Kendra P Kuhl

Etosha R Cave

Ziyang Huo

Edward Izett

Sara Hunegnaw

Ashley D Mishra

Timothy A Bekkedahl

Ajay R Kashi

Kathryn L Corp

George Leonard

Nicholas H Flanders

Qun Zeng

Kenneth X Hua

Lihui Wang

Angelica L Reyes

Carter S Haines

Maxwell Goldman

Alvin Leung

Shuai Zhao

Luka Stevic

Gleb Smilyanski

Will Gasperini

Morgan George

Methods and/or systems for operating a carbon oxide reduction electrolyzer may involve (a) performing normal operation at the electrolyzer; (b) performing a recovery or protection process including: (i) applying a modified current and/or voltage to the electrolyzer, and (ii) while applying the reverse current to the electrolyzer, flowing a recovery gas to the cathode; and (c) resuming normal operation at the electrolyzer. Applying a modified current and/or voltage may involve applying a short circuit to the electrolyzer, holding the electrolyzer electrodes at open circuit voltage, and/or applying a reverse current to the electrolyzer.

Recovery procedure for carbon oxide electrolyzers

Provided herein are membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for COreduction. According to various embodiments, the MEAs are configured to address challenges particular to COincluding managing water in the MEA. Bipolar and anion-exchange membrane (AEM)-only MEAs are described along with components thereof and related methods of fabrication.

Membrane electrode assembly for COx reduction

A system optionally including a carbon oxide reactor. A method for carbon oxide reactor control, optionally including selecting carbon oxide reactor aspects based on a desired output composition, running a carbon oxide reactor under controlled process conditions to produce a desired output composition, and/or altering the process conditions to alter the output composition.

System and method for carbon dioxide reactor control

Provided herein are systems and methods for operating carbon oxide (CO) reduction reactors (CRRs) for producing methane (CH). Embodiments of the systems and methods may also be used for producing other organic compounds including alcohols, carboxylic acids, and other hydrocarbons such as ethylene (CHCH). According to various embodiments, the systems and methods may be characterized by one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes a cathode catalyst layer with a relatively low catalyst loading. In some embodiments, a bipolar MEA includes a thin cation-conducting layer and a thin anion-conducting layer, with the cation-conducting layer being thicker than the anion-conducting layer. In other embodiments a pure anion exchange polymer only membrane may be used to bridge the cathode catalyst and the anode catalyst. These and other features are described further below.

System and method for methane production

A method of forming a gas diffusion layer includes causing, at least in part, a stack of layers to be arranged between compressing surfaces of a press, the stack of layers including a plurality of gas diffusion layers. The method also includes causing, at least in part, the press to apply one or more compression cycles to the stack of layers to reduce a combined, uncompressed thickness of the plurality of gas diffusion layers between about 2% and about 30%.

COx electrolyzer cell flow fields and gas diffusion layers

Disclosed are membrane electrode assemblies having a cathode layer comprising a carbon oxide reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide; an anode layer comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation of a water; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between, and in contact with, the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a salt having a concentration of at least about 10 uM in at least a portion of the MEA.

Electrolyzer and method of use

Provided herein are methods for operating carbon oxide (CO) reduction reactors (CRR) and related apparatus. In some embodiments, the methods involve shutting off, reducing, or otherwise controlling current during various operation stages including hydration, break-in, normal operation, planned shut-offs, and extended shutoff or storage periods.

Membrane electrode assembly for COreduction

A system preferably including a carbon dioxide reactor. A method for carbon dioxide reactor control, preferably including selecting carbon dioxide reactor aspects based on a desired output composition, running a carbon dioxide reactor under controlled process conditions to produce a desired output composition, and/or altering the process conditions to alter the output composition.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Sichao Ma