Prospects for paired electrolysis at industrial currents

Paired electrolysis at industrial current densities offers an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to thermocatalytic chemical synthesis by leveraging anodic and cathodic valorization. However, its industrial feasibility remains constrained by system integration, including reactor assembly,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Xia, Lu, Zhao, Kaiqi, Kadam, Sunil, Blanco-Gonzalez, M Dolores, Alonso, Maria D Hernandez, García de Arquer, Francisco Pelayo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/444904
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/444904
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Electrolysis
electrolysis
Electròlisi
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física
Descripción
Sumario:Paired electrolysis at industrial current densities offers an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to thermocatalytic chemical synthesis by leveraging anodic and cathodic valorization. However, its industrial feasibility remains constrained by system integration, including reactor assembly, asymmetric electron transfer kinetics, membrane selection, mass transport limitations, and techno-economic bottlenecks. Addressing these challenges requires an engineering-driven approach that integrates reactor architecture, electrode-electrolyte interactions, reaction pairing, and process optimization. Here, we discuss scale-specific electrochemical reactor assembly strategies, transitioning from half-cell research to full-scale stack validation. We develop reaction pairing frameworks that align electrocatalyst design with electrochemical kinetics, enhancing efficiency and selectivity under industrial operating conditions. We also establish application-dependent key performance indicators and benchmark propylene oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution reaction or oxygen reduction reaction against existing industrial routes to evaluate process viability. Finally, we propose hybrid integration models that embed paired electrolysis into existing industrial workflows, which could alleviate adoption barriers.