An abrupt interface electroreduction catalyst includes a porous gas diffusion layer and a catalyst layer providing a sharp reaction interface. The electroreduction catalyst can be used for converting CO.sub.2 into a target product such as ethylene. The porous gas diffusion layer can be hydrophobic and configured for contacting gas-phase CO.sub.2 while the catalyst layer is disposed on and covers a reaction interface side of the porous gas diffusion layer. The catalyst layer has another side contacting an electrolyte and can be hydrophilic, composed a metal such as Cu and is sufficiently thin to prevent diffusion limitations of the reactant in the electrolyte and enhance selectivity for the target product. The electroreduction catalyst can be made by vapor deposition methods and can be used for electrochemical production of ethylene in reaction system.

A method for operating a wastewater treatment system is disclosed wherein the wastewater treatment system comprises at least one electrochemical cell comprising dimensionally stable electrodes having the same catalyst composition, the electrodes being immersed in wastewater and being connected to a power supply and wherein the voltage at the power supply is monitored and the polarity of the electrochemical cell(s) is reversed when the recorded voltage increases by a predetermined voltage difference. The wastewater treatment system can comprise at least one electrochemical cell which is kept inactive while the active electrochemical cells are operating. The inactive cell(s) can be activated when all the electrodes of the active cells are consumed as indicated by another increase in voltage at the power supply after the polarity of the active cells has been once reversed.

A method for operating a wastewater treatment system is disclosed wherein the wastewater treatment system comprises at least one electrochemical cell comprising dimensionally stable electrodes having the same catalyst composition, the electrodes being immersed in wastewater and being connected to a power supply and wherein the voltage at the power supply is monitored and the polarity of the electrochemical cell(s) is reversed when the recorded voltage increases by a predetermined voltage difference. The wastewater treatment system can comprise at least one electrochemical cell which is kept inactive while the active electrochemical cells are operating. The inactive cell(s) can be activated when all the electrodes of the active cells are consumed as indicated by another increase in voltage at the power supply after the polarity of the active cells has been once reversed.

A method for depositing a catalyst layer onto a porous conductive substrate is provided. A catalyst ink is provided comprising catalyst particles suspended in a solvent. The catalyst ink is deposited onto a porous conductive substrate, wherein the solvent of the deposited catalyst ink is frozen. The frozen solvent is sublimated, leaving the catalyst layer.

A method for depositing a catalyst layer onto a porous conductive substrate is provided. A catalyst ink is provided comprising catalyst particles suspended in a solvent. The catalyst ink is deposited onto a porous conductive substrate, wherein the solvent of the deposited catalyst ink is frozen. The frozen solvent is sublimated, leaving the catalyst layer.

Fabricating a doped bismuth vanadate electrode includes spray coating a substrate with an aqueous solution with vanadium-containing anions and bismuth-containing cations to yield a coated substrate, heating the coated substrate to form crystalline bismuth vanadate on the substrate, and doping the crystalline bismuth vanadate with lithium ions to yield a doped bismuth vanadate electrode.

Fabricating a doped bismuth vanadate electrode includes spray coating a substrate with an aqueous solution with vanadium-containing anions and bismuth-containing cations to yield a coated substrate, heating the coated substrate to form crystalline bismuth vanadate on the substrate, and doping the crystalline bismuth vanadate with lithium ions to yield a doped bismuth vanadate electrode.

The present invention refers to methods of increasing the catalytic efficieny of Hydrogen Evolution Reactions (HER) electrocatalysts with a low external magnetic field. The present invention further includes electrochemical cells having an external magnetic field. The electrocatalyst is a metal or a compound with partially filled d-orbitals, more preferred a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material with partially filled d-orbitals.

A method of producing methanol from methane in which hot-electrons generated under an external electric field in a process taking place in a multi-layer heterostructure comprising a nanoporous layer drive the conversion from methane to methanol. The structure generates hot electrons by providing spatial enhancement of the electric field, and purges hot holes which are created when hot electrons depart. This combination enhances heterogeneous catalysis of the conversion reaction.

A method of producing methanol from methane in which hot-electrons generated under an external electric field in a process taking place in a multi-layer heterostructure comprising a nanoporous layer drive the conversion from methane to methanol. The structure generates hot electrons by providing spatial enhancement of the electric field, and purges hot holes which are created when hot electrons depart. This combination enhances heterogeneous catalysis of the conversion reaction.