Abstract: An electrocatalytic device for carbon dioxide conversion includes a cathode with a Catalytically Active Elementa metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCOO)?, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO?)2, and CF3COOH.

Abstract: A battery comprises an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs, where Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can be in the form of a membrane. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can comprise a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx, in which Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group, Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of Cl, OH, and a reaction product between an OH or a Cl and a species other than a cyclic amine or a simple amine, the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 1% of the total weight of the membrane, and the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is 15% or more of the total weight of the membrane.

Abstract: A battery comprises an ion-conducting polymeric composition comprising a copolymer of styrene and vinylbenzyl-Rs, where Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can be in the form of a membrane. The ion-conducting polymeric composition can comprise a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx, in which Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group, Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of Cl, OH, and a reaction product between an OH or a Cl and a species other than a cyclic amine or a simple amine, the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 1% of the total weight of the membrane, and the total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is 15% or more of the total weight of the membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical device converts carbon dioxide to a formic acid reaction product. The device includes an anode and a cathode, each comprising a quantity of catalyst. The anode and cathode each have reactant introduced thereto. Two membranes, a cation exchange polymer electrolyte membrane and an anion exchange polymer electrolyte membrane, are interposed between the anode and the cathode, forming a central flow compartment where a carbon dioxide reduction product, such as formic acid, can be recovered. At least a portion of the cathode catalyst is directly exposed to gaseous carbon dioxide during electrolysis. The average current density at the membrane is at least 20 mA/cm2, measured as the area of the cathode gas diffusion layer that is covered by catalyst, and formate ion selectivity is at least 50% at a cell potential difference of 3.0 V.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises an anode and a cathode. An electrocatalyst mixture is placed between said anode and cathode. The electrocatalyst mixture comprises at least one Catalytically Active Element and, separately, at least one Helper Catalyst comprising an organic molecule, an organic ion, or a mixture of organic molecules and organic ions. The electrocatalyst mixture electrochemically converts carbon dioxide to one or more carbonaceous reaction products via the reaction: CO2+2e?+2H+?carbonaceous reaction products, at overpotentials of 0.9 V or less.

Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-Rs and a substituted ethene. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rs groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.

Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.

Abstract: A renewable fuel production system includes a carbon dioxide capture unit for extracting carbon dioxide from atmospheric air, a carbon dioxide electrolyzer for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a water electrolyzer for converting water to hydrogen, a synfuels generator for converting carbon monoxide produced by the carbon dioxide electrolyzer and hydrogen produced by the water electrolyzer to a fuel. The fuel produced can be synthetic gasoline and/or synthetic diesel. A renewable fuel production process includes the steps of extracting carbon dioxide from atmospheric air via a carbon dioxide capture unit, converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide via a carbon dioxide electrolyzer, converting water to hydrogen via a water electrolyzer, and converting carbon monoxide produced via the carbon dioxide electrolyzer and H2 produced via the water electrolyzer to a fuel. The system is also capable of simultaneously or alternatively producing a separate industrial chemical.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices comprising electrocatalyst mixtures include at least one Catalytically Active Element and, as a separate constituent, one Helper Catalyst. The electrocatalysts can be used to increase the rate, modify the selectivity or lower the overpotential of chemical reactions. These electrocatalysts are useful for a variety of chemical reactions including, in particular, the electrochemical conversion of CO2. Chemical processes employing these catalysts produce CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCOO)?, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, or (COO?)2. Devices using the electrocatalysts include, for example, a CO2 sensor and a CO2 electrolyzer.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic device for carbon dioxide conversion includes a cathode with a Catalytically Active Elementa metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCOO)?, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO?)2, and CF3COOH.

Abstract: A catalyst layer for an electrochemical device comprises a catalytically active element and an ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting polymer comprises positively charged cyclic amine groups. The ion conducting polymer comprises at least one of an imidazolium, a pyridinium, a pyrazolium, a pyrrolidinium, a pyrrolium, a pyrimidium, a piperidinium, an indolium, a triazinium, and polymers thereof. The catalytically active element comprises at least one of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Al, Si, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, U, Sm, Tb, La, Ce and Nd. In an electrolyzer comprising the present catalyst layer, the feed to the electrolyzer comprises at least one of CO2 and H2O.

Abstract: A method to manufacture an ion exchange membrane involves treatment of the membrane in a strong base to strengthen the membrane, decrease the membrane solubility, and create linkages that can be detected by analysis using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and a Helper Polymer in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said carbon dioxide reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCO2)?, H2CO2, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO?)2, and CF3COOH.

Abstract: A process for the production of organic acids having at least three carbon atoms comprises the steps of forming an amount of carbon monoxide and reacting the amount of carbon monoxide with an amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, a strong acid, and a phosphine. In some embodiments, the unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of acetylene and methylacetylene, and the organic acid is one of acrylic acid and methyl acrylic acid. The reacting step is preferably performed with carbon monoxide produced from carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An electrocatalytic process for carbon dioxide conversion includes combining a Catalytically Active Element and a Helper Polymer in the presence of carbon dioxide, allowing a reaction to proceed to produce a reaction product, and applying electrical energy to said reaction to achieve electrochemical conversion of said carbon dioxide reactant to said reaction product. The Catalytically Active Element can be a metal in the form of supported or unsupported particles or flakes with an average size between 0.6 nm and 100 nm. The reaction products comprise at least one of CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCO2)?, H2CO2, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, (COO?)2, and CF3COOH.

Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.

Abstract: A method to manufacture an ion exchange membrane involves treatment of the membrane in a strong base to strengthen the membrane, decrease the membrane solubility, and create linkages that can be detected by analysis using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Abstract: An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.