Patent ID: 9481939
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B01J,C25B,H01M,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. An electrochemical device for converting CO 2 to a reaction product, the device comprising: (a) an anode comprising a quantity of anode catalyst, said anode having an anode reactant introduced thereto via at least one anode reactant flow channel; (b) an electrolyzer cathode comprising a quantity of an electrolyzer cathode catalyst, said cathode having a cathode reactant introduced thereto via at least one cathode reactant flow channel; (c) a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode; (d) a source of potential which applies a potential difference across the anode and the cathode; wherein said cathode is encased in a cathode chamber and at least a portion of the cathode catalyst is directly exposed to gaseous CO (1) with said anode open to atmospheric air, introducing a stream of CO (2) applying a cell potential of 3.0 V via an electrical connection between said anode and said cathode with the device at room temperature; (3) measuring the current across the cell and the concentration of CO and H (4) calculating the CO selectivity as follows: (5) performing steps (1)-(4) with room temperature water being directed to said anode; and (6) determining that the device has satisfied the test if the average current density at the membrane is at least 20 mA/cm