Enhancement of the chlor-alkali process via blue light irradiation using a WO3 photoelectrocatalyst
The chloralkaline industry is recognized for its technological maturity and high energy efficiency; however, recent advances seek to further optimize the process by integrating complementary technologies. In this work, a photoelectrochemical approach is explored as an alternative to conventional ele...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Fundación Dialnet. Universidad de La Rioja |
| Repositorio: | RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/45104 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.118911 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343725036073 https://hdl.handle.net/10578/45104 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Chloralkaline HP LED irradiation Photoelectrochemical Photoelectrolyzer Tungsten oxide |
| Sumario: | The chloralkaline industry is recognized for its technological maturity and high energy efficiency; however, recent advances seek to further optimize the process by integrating complementary technologies. In this work, a photoelectrochemical approach is explored as an alternative to conventional electrolysis to evaluate the impact of light irradiation on the generation of oxidized chlorine species (OCS) and hydrogen (H2). A flow photoelectrolyzer equipped with a WO3 anode, stainless steel cathode, and proton exchange membrane was designed, fabricated, and tested under different high-power LED irradiation conditions. The influence of current density and irradiation power on the formation of the products and the faradaic and energy efficiencies was systematically evaluated. Under optimal conditions (1.33 mA cm-2, 10 W LED), the photoelectrolyzer achieved faradaic efficiencies of 38 % for OCS and 71.8 % for H2, with a notable reduction in cell voltage compared to the electrolyzer. Although the energy efficiency associated with simulated irradiation represents a challenge, the results indicate that in the presence of irradiation, higher rates and faradaic efficiencies are obtained for OCS and H2. Furthermore, mechanistic studies revealed that both h+ and •OH radicals are essential for OCS formation. These findings reinforce the potential of photoelectrocatalysis as a viable route for sustainable chlor-alkali process enhancement and provide valuable insights into the coupling of photonic and electrochemical processes. |
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