Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

The electrode catalyst ink for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 between the solvent and the catalyst is 15.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and less than 20.5 MPa.sup.½. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 between the solvent and the organic polymer is 10.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and 14.0 MPa.sup.½ or less.

The electrode catalyst ink for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst including a layered double hydroxide, an organic polymer, and a solvent. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a1 between the solvent and the catalyst is 15.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and less than 20.5 MPa.sup.½. The Hansen solubility parameter distance R.sub.a2 between the solvent and the organic polymer is 10.0 MPa.sup.½ or more and 14.0 MPa.sup.½ or less.

Methods for forming a metal oxide electrolyte improve ionic conductivity. Some of those methods involve applying a first metal compound to a substrate, converting that metal compound to a metal oxide, applying a different metal compound to the metal oxide, and converting the different metal compound to form a second metal oxide. That substrate may be in nanobar form that conforms to an orientation imparted by a magnetic field or an electric field applied before or during the converting. Electrolytes so formed can be used in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, among other applications.

Methods for forming a metal oxide electrolyte improve ionic conductivity. Some of those methods involve applying a first metal compound to a substrate, converting that metal compound to a metal oxide, applying a different metal compound to the metal oxide, and converting the different metal compound to form a second metal oxide. That substrate may be in nanobar form that conforms to an orientation imparted by a magnetic field or an electric field applied before or during the converting. Electrolytes so formed can be used in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, among other applications.

One aspect of the present invention provides a sodium hydroxide production device, which includes: a first tank configured to store a sodium salt including two or more sodium ions in a molecule; a first electrolysis unit including a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber which are partitioned by a first separator; and a water supply unit configured to supply water to the first tank and the first cathode chamber, wherein the first tank, a pipe configured to supply an aqueous sodium salt solution produced in the first tank to the first anode chamber, the first anode chamber, and a pipe configured to supply a material produced in the first anode chamber to the first tank constitute a closed loop, and a sodium hypochlorite production device including the same.

One aspect of the present invention provides a sodium hydroxide production device, which includes: a first tank configured to store a sodium salt including two or more sodium ions in a molecule; a first electrolysis unit including a first anode chamber and a first cathode chamber which are partitioned by a first separator; and a water supply unit configured to supply water to the first tank and the first cathode chamber, wherein the first tank, a pipe configured to supply an aqueous sodium salt solution produced in the first tank to the first anode chamber, the first anode chamber, and a pipe configured to supply a material produced in the first anode chamber to the first tank constitute a closed loop, and a sodium hypochlorite production device including the same.

The present disclosure relates to electrocatalysts for electroreduction of a carbon-containing gas to produce n-propanol, for example. The electrocatalyst includes a multi-metallic material comprising a primary metal, such as Cu, and a metal dopant, such as Ag, selected and distributed to provide asymmetric active sites that include neighbouring atoms of the primary metal having distinct electronic structures to promote C2-C1 coupling. The electrocatalysts can be bimetallic or bimetallic, for example. The disclosure also relates to manufacturing and using the electrocatalysts, which can be used as a cathodic catalyst to convert CO or CO.sub.2 into multi-carbon products.

The present disclosure relates to electrocatalysts for electroreduction of a carbon-containing gas to produce n-propanol, for example. The electrocatalyst includes a multi-metallic material comprising a primary metal, such as Cu, and a metal dopant, such as Ag, selected and distributed to provide asymmetric active sites that include neighbouring atoms of the primary metal having distinct electronic structures to promote C2-C1 coupling. The electrocatalysts can be bimetallic or bimetallic, for example. The disclosure also relates to manufacturing and using the electrocatalysts, which can be used as a cathodic catalyst to convert CO or CO.sub.2 into multi-carbon products.