Modeling and Numerical Investigation of the Performance of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol

Abstract

In this study, a model was built to investigate the role of Cu2O-/ZnO-based gas diffusion electrodes in enhancing the reduction of carbon dioxide into methanol inside an electrochemical cell. The model was simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software and validated using experimental results. It showed reasonable agreement with an average error of 6%. The model demonstrated the dependence of the methanol production rate and faradic efficiency on process key variables: current density (j = 5–10 mA cm–2), gas flow rate (Qg/A = 10–20 mL min–1 cm–2), electrolyte flow rate, and CO2 gas feed concentration. The results showed a maximum methanol production rate of 50 μmol m–2 s–1 and faradic efficiency of 56% at −1.38 V vs Ag/AgCl. From the economic point of view, it is recommended to use a gas stream of 90% or slightly lower CO2 concentration and an electrolyte flow rate as low as 2 mL min–1 cm–2.