Enhancing performance of molten carbonate electrolysis cell via deposition of gold nanoparticles on anode

The power-to-gas method utilizing electrolysis has attracted attention for ecofriendly and efficient energy storage. The use of a molten carbonate electrolysis cell (MCEC) allows the production of a large amount of hydrogen using carbonate electrolytes. However, compared with conventional fossil-fuel-based production methods, the use of MCECs involves higher costs and a lower efficiency, necessitating the exploration of strategies to improve MCECs performance. To this end, herein, an AuNP-deposited anode is proposed for improving the performance of MCECs. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) can enhance the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, increase the reaction surface area, and increase the electrical conductivity of the anode. Additionally, because of their oxygen molecule desorption properties, AuNPs are suitable anode catalyst materials for MCECs. By depositing AuNPs on the anode, the conductivity was increased, reducing the Ohmic resistance, and the charge transfer resistance and mass transfer resistance due to the characteristics of the OER and oxygen gas desorption were significantly reduced.