Scientific Scope
The 2nd Symposium on “Insights into Gas Diffusion Electrodes: From Fundamentals to Industrial Applications” is an initiative of Research Unit 2397 approved by German Research Foundation (DFG) in July 2016. The main research focus of the project "Multiscale Analysis of Complex Three-Phase Systems: Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Reduction" is devoted to the interaction of reaction and transport processes during oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction within silver-based gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs).
GDEs have broad applications in different electrochemical devices such as (bio)-fuel cells, (bio)-electrolyzers, and batteries for energy as well as inorganic and organic synthesis applications. Although very different chemistries and materials are involved, all of these examples share some similarities related to so-called “three phase boundaries” as well as pronounced mass transfer resistances related to slow diffusivity and/or low solubility of gases.
In this topical meeting we would like to address these challenges explicitly with respect to:
- Advanced methods for GDE preparation (devoted to control of local arrangement of GDE materials and porosity) and simulation driven methods for GDE structure optimization.
- Study of reaction kinetics and reaction mechanisms involving gaseous products or reactants.
- Advanced characterization methods for GDEs (dynamic, in-situ, and operando studies).
- Multiscale modeling of GDE operation including reaction and transport resistances.
Overall, our topical meeting should facilitate transfer of knowledge and methods between different communities developing or using GDE technology and should promote the development of a common terminology: does the three phase boundary have the same meaning in all these examples?
Micro-electrochemical investigation of O2 and CO2 reduction
Ruhr University Bochum
Prof. Wolfgang Schumann
Modeling of electrolyte distribution in a GDE
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Ulrich Nieken
Stationary modeling of the overvoltage on silver-based gas diffusion electrodes during reductions in aqueous electrolyte
Clausthal University of Technology
Prof. Thomas Turek
Dynamic Status Analysis of Porous Gas Diffusion Electrodes
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Prof. Ulrike Krewer
3D structure-property relationships and operando imaging of the electrolyte distribution
Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin
Dr. Ingo Manke
Manufacturing and characterization of specifically tailored electrodes as model systems
Univeristy of Bayreuth
Prof. Christina Roth
