An electrolysis apparatus for the electrolytic production of oxygen from oxide-containing starting material includes at least one cathode which at least partly delimits a receiving region which in at least one operation state is configured for receiving the oxide-containing starting material and at least one anode, wherein the electrolysis apparatus has at least one selective oxygen pump which is at least partly realized integrally with the anode.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to the electrochemical separation of target gases from gas mixtures are provided. In some cases, a target gas such as carbon dioxide is captured and optionally released using an electrochemical cell (e.g., by bonding to an electroactive species in a reduced state). Some embodiments are particularly useful for selectively capturing the target gas while reacting with little to no oxygen gas that may be present in the gas mixture. Some such embodiments may be useful in applications involving separations from gas mixtures having relatively low concentrations of the target gas, such as direct air capture and ventilated air treatment.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to the electrochemical separation of target gases from gas mixtures are provided. In some cases, a target gas such as carbon dioxide is captured and optionally released using an electrochemical cell (e.g., by bonding to an electroactive species in a reduced state). Some embodiments are particularly useful for selectively capturing the target gas while reacting with little to no oxygen gas that may be present in the gas mixture. Some such embodiments may be useful in applications involving separations from gas mixtures having relatively low concentrations of the target gas, such as direct air capture and ventilated air treatment.

A process for electrochemical preparation of sodium alkoxide is performed in an electrolysis cell having three chambers, wherein the middle chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions, and from the anode chamber by a diffusion barrier. The geometry of the electrolysis cell protects the solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions from acidic destruction by the pH of the anolyte that falls in the course of electrolysis. The anolyte used in the process is a brine also comprising carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates, as well as NaCl. The process solves the problem that CO.sub.2 from these carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates forms in the electrolysis cell during the electrolysis of this brine obtained from pretreatment. The process prevents the formation of a gas bubble in the electrolysis cell that disrupts electrolysis and reduces the contamination of the chlorine with CO.sub.2.

A process for electrochemical preparation of sodium alkoxide is performed in an electrolysis cell having three chambers, wherein the middle chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions, and from the anode chamber by a diffusion barrier. The geometry of the electrolysis cell protects the solid-state electrolyte permeable to sodium ions from acidic destruction by the pH of the anolyte that falls in the course of electrolysis. The anolyte used in the process is a brine also comprising carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates, as well as NaCl. The process solves the problem that CO.sub.2 from these carbonates and/or hydrogencarbonates forms in the electrolysis cell during the electrolysis of this brine obtained from pretreatment. The process prevents the formation of a gas bubble in the electrolysis cell that disrupts electrolysis and reduces the contamination of the chlorine with CO.sub.2.

A method of forming a hydrocarbon product and a protonation product comprises introducing C.sub.2H.sub.6 to a positive electrode of an electrochemical cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The proton-conducting membrane comprises an electrolyte material having an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 10.sup.−2 S/cm at one or more temperatures within a range of from about 150° C. to about 650° C. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrochemical cell to produce the hydrocarbon product and the protonation product. A C.sub.2H.sub.6 activation system and an electrochemical cell are also described.

A method of forming a hydrocarbon product and a protonation product comprises introducing C.sub.2H.sub.6 to a positive electrode of an electrochemical cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The proton-conducting membrane comprises an electrolyte material having an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 10.sup.−2 S/cm at one or more temperatures within a range of from about 150° C. to about 650° C. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrochemical cell to produce the hydrocarbon product and the protonation product. A C.sub.2H.sub.6 activation system and an electrochemical cell are also described.

An electrochemical compressor, including a first end plate, a second end plate, a voltage supply connected to the first end plate and second end plate, a plurality of membranes, where each membrane of the plurality of membranes has a substantially same impedance, and where each membrane of the plurality of membranes has a different thickness in a stacking direction, and a plurality of conductive bipolar plates, where the bipolar plates of the plurality of bipolar plates are arranged in contact with, and alternating in the stacking direction with, the membranes of the plurality of membranes, and where the membranes of the plurality of membranes and the bipolar plates of the plurality of bipolar plates are electrically connected in series between the first end plate and second end plate.

A solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) includes a solid oxide electrolyte, a fuel-side electrode disposed on a fuel side of the electrolyte, and an air-side electrode disposed on an air side of the electrolyte. The air-side electrode includes a barrier layer disposed on the air side of the electrolyte and including a first doped ceria material, and a functional layer disposed on the barrier layer and including an electrically conductive material and a second doped ceria material.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide solid oxide cells and components thereof having a metal oxide electrolyte that exhibits enhanced ionic conductivity. Certain of those embodiments have two materials, at least one of which is a metal oxide, disposed so that at least some interfaces between the domains of the materials orient in a direction substantially parallel to the desired ionic conductivity.