A supported catalyst for reducing CO.sub.2 is provided. The supported catalyst includes a plurality of support particles; and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed over each support particle. Characteristically, the catalyst particles has formula PdH.sub.x/C wherein x is 0.3 to 0.7. Methods for making the support particles and using the support particles to reduce carbon dioxide are also provided.

A supported catalyst for reducing CO.sub.2 is provided. The supported catalyst includes a plurality of support particles; and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed over each support particle. Characteristically, the catalyst particles has formula PdH.sub.x/C wherein x is 0.3 to 0.7. Methods for making the support particles and using the support particles to reduce carbon dioxide are also provided.

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.

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.

This invention relates to a device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen from a water-containing liquid, the device comprising: an anodic half-cell (3) and a cathodic half-cell (4), with an anion exchange membrane (9) situated between the two half-cells. The electrodes (7, 8) of the half-cells (3, 4) and the anion exchange membrane (9) form a membrane/electrode assembly (MEA). There is also provided means (2) for feeding the water-containing liquid to only one of the anodic half-cell (3) and the cathodic half-cell (4), wherein the electrode in the other, substantially dry, half-cell is ionomer-free and/or binder-free.

This invention relates to a device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen from a water-containing liquid, the device comprising: an anodic half-cell (3) and a cathodic half-cell (4), with an anion exchange membrane (9) situated between the two half-cells. The electrodes (7, 8) of the half-cells (3, 4) and the anion exchange membrane (9) form a membrane/electrode assembly (MEA). There is also provided means (2) for feeding the water-containing liquid to only one of the anodic half-cell (3) and the cathodic half-cell (4), wherein the electrode in the other, substantially dry, half-cell is ionomer-free and/or binder-free.

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and an electrolyser using one or more of said assemblies, in particular the present invention provides an electrode assembly for the production of hydrogen comprising: i) an anode structure which comprises an anode located within an electrolysis compartment, ii) a cathode structure which comprises a cathode located within an electrolysis compartment containing a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, characterised in that the cathode comprises: a) An electrically conductive metal substrate, and b) An electrocatalytic layer on the substrate and comprising a, at least one metal selected from platinum group metals, rhenium, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum and b. at least 50% by volume of an electrically conductive support material, wherein the electrically conductive support material is formed from particles having an average particle size of less than 5 microns (5 μm) and which are not metallic particles.

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and an electrolyser using one or more of said assemblies, in particular the present invention provides an electrode assembly for the production of hydrogen comprising: i) an anode structure which comprises an anode located within an electrolysis compartment, ii) a cathode structure which comprises a cathode located within an electrolysis compartment containing a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide, characterised in that the cathode comprises: a) An electrically conductive metal substrate, and b) An electrocatalytic layer on the substrate and comprising a, at least one metal selected from platinum group metals, rhenium, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum and b. at least 50% by volume of an electrically conductive support material, wherein the electrically conductive support material is formed from particles having an average particle size of less than 5 microns (5 μm) and which are not metallic particles.

A process for methanation comprising a first region for flowing a stream over a solid oxide electrolysis cell. In this first region the stream consists of CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, and H.sub.2O, the stream is converted into a first conversion stream, and the solid oxide electrolysis cell is enhanced with a methanation catalyst. The process also has a removal region connected to the first region wherein the removal region is able to flow the first conversion stream away from the solid oxide electrolysis cell.

A process for methanation comprising a first region for flowing a stream over a solid oxide electrolysis cell. In this first region the stream consists of CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, and H.sub.2O, the stream is converted into a first conversion stream, and the solid oxide electrolysis cell is enhanced with a methanation catalyst. The process also has a removal region connected to the first region wherein the removal region is able to flow the first conversion stream away from the solid oxide electrolysis cell.