Imaging local pH in boundary layers at 3D electrodes in electrochemical flow systems

Abstract

Electrochemical reactors, such as water electrolyzers, CO₂ electrolyzers, fuel cells, and flow batteries, will be essential in electrifying industry as part of the global transition towards a defossilized and sustainable economy. These technologies require further optimization to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for widespread adoption. Hydrodynamics and mass transfer at electrode–electrolyte interfaces significantly affect electrochemical conversion reactions by influencing the reactant availability and pH in the local reaction environment. 3D electrodes, such as flow-through foams and suspension electrodes, hold a great advantage over 2D electrodes as they moderate pH changes and reactant depletion by spreading the current over a larger electrode area and electrolyte volume. We study the diffusion boundary layer in operando around a single mm-sized particle, representing an element of a 3D electrode. We visualize the local and transient pH with Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) during H₂O reduction at various current densities and electrolyte flow velocities at a resolution down to 9 μm and 2 Hz. In addition, we apply an intermittent current to investigate how long the capacitive electric double layer of a suspension electrode particle can maintain an electrochemical reaction during their time of non-contact with a current collector, mimicking applications with Faradaic charge transfer (i.e. flow batteries, microbial fuel cells, capacitance-based electrolyzers). We demonstrate that the diffusion boundary layer is not symmetrical, but depend on the direction of the electric field, the current density and the flow conditions. The substantial pH gradients and boundary layer formation at the scale of hundreds of micrometers underline the importance of controlling flow in or around electrodes, making 3D electrodes an important asset for creating suitable reaction conditions in mass transport-limited electrochemical conversions.