This application relates to new process that utilizes electrodes that incorporate acids that facilitate upgrading of methane and other low molecular weight alkanes to higher order hydrocarbon molecules, such as paraffins, olefins, and aromatics, at temperatures less than 250° C. A primary focus of the invention includes methane conversion to ethylene. The first step of the process includes acid containing electrodes that facilitate the activation of the alkane in the anode layer of the electrochemical reactor. Subsequent steps include the separation of protons from produced longer chain hydrocarbons followed by subsequent electrochemical reduction of the protons to yield hydrogen at the cathode or protons combined with oxygen at the cathode to yield water. The reaction steps in the anode upgrade methane to higher order hydrocarbon products.

The present invention relates to a novel approach of obtaining a gas diffusion electrode (GDE), the gas diffusion electrodes obtained using said method and the use thereof in the electrocatalytic conversion of gaseous reactants into economically interesting reaction products. The GDEs obtained using the method of the present invention are particularly useful in the electrochemical of gaseous reactants such as CO2, H2, N2, or O2 into bulk chemicals and fuels such as Syngas, Formic Acid, Methanol, Ethanol, Ethane, Ethylene, Methane, Ammonia, and the like.

The present invention relates to a novel approach of obtaining a gas diffusion electrode (GDE), the gas diffusion electrodes obtained using said method and the use thereof in the electrocatalytic conversion of gaseous reactants into economically interesting reaction products. The GDEs obtained using the method of the present invention are particularly useful in the electrochemical of gaseous reactants such as CO2, H2, N2, or O2 into bulk chemicals and fuels such as Syngas, Formic Acid, Methanol, Ethanol, Ethane, Ethylene, Methane, Ammonia, and the like.

The present invention relates to a lithium cation exchange membrane, for water electrolysis, having high lithium cation conductivity, and a water electrolysis system using same, and a water electrolysis system using a lithium cation exchange membrane (LEM) for water electrolysis according to the present invention, comprising a hydrophilic polymer solution and a monomer solution having a sulfonic acid group, is an economically feasible water electrolysis system achieving lower costs than conventional proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis and a higher current density than alkali water electrolysis.

The present invention relates to a lithium cation exchange membrane, for water electrolysis, having high lithium cation conductivity, and a water electrolysis system using same, and a water electrolysis system using a lithium cation exchange membrane (LEM) for water electrolysis according to the present invention, comprising a hydrophilic polymer solution and a monomer solution having a sulfonic acid group, is an economically feasible water electrolysis system achieving lower costs than conventional proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis and a higher current density than alkali water electrolysis.

The embodiments provide an electrode catalyst layer for reduction of carbon dioxide, a carbon dioxide reduction electrode, and a carbon dioxide electrolysis apparatus. The catalyst layer is made to exhibit high partial current density and to endure a long-term operation by controlling the wettability. The catalyst layer comprises a metallic catalyst supported on carbon material, an ion-conductive material, and a hydrophilic polymer; and is characterized in that a BET specific surface area (A.sub.N2) of said catalyst layer determined by nitrogen gas-adsorption and a BET specific surface area (A.sub.H2O) of said catalyst layer determined by water vapor-adsorption are in a ratio (A.sub.H2O/A.sub.N2) of 0.08 or less.

This application relates to new process that utilizes electrodes that incorporate acids that facilitate upgrading of methane and other low molecular weight alkanes to higher order hydrocarbon molecules, such as paraffins, olefins, and aromatics, at temperatures less than 250° C. A primary focus of the invention includes methane conversion to ethylene. The first step of the process includes acid containing electrodes that facilitate the activation of the alkane in the anode layer of the electrochemical reactor. Subsequent steps include the separation of protons from produced longer chain hydrocarbons followed by subsequent electrochemical reduction of the protons to yield hydrogen at the cathode or protons combined with oxygen at the cathode to yield water. The reaction steps in the anode upgrade methane to higher order hydrocarbon products.

A water electrolyzer includes an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode, an electrolyte solution, a voltage applicator, and a controller. The voltage applicator applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical cell includes nickel. In the shutdown of the water electrolyzer, the controller causes the voltage applicator to apply the voltage at least when the temperature of the electrolyte solution is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value.

A system and method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrochemical cell comprising a first cell compartment, a second cell compartment, and a membrane positioned between the first cell compartment and the second cell compartment is disclosed. The method may include introducing a feed containing a carbon dioxide gas and a feed of catholyte at a cathode positioned in the first cell compartment, in which the cathode contains a gas diffusion electrode comprising a carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave and wherein the carbon dioxide gas is directed through carbon fibers of the carbon cloth or graphitized carbon weave. The method may further include introducing a feed of anolyte at an anode positioned in the second cell compartment and applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode of the electrochemical cell to thereby reduce the carbon dioxide to a reduction product.

Radio frequency (RF) power, and in particular microwaves, are used as a source of heat for plasma Exothermic Enhanced Reactions (EERs) in a metal lattice, into which hydrogen is loaded in the presence of lithium or graphene.