Toward the Quantitative Evaluation of an Activated Carbon Particle Electrode Performance in a Packed-Bed System

4 years ago

Toward the Quantitative Evaluation of an Activated Carbon Particle Electrode Performance in a Packed-Bed System

Shengxiang Yang, Dongyang Wei, Yan Kong, Lizhang Wang, Peng Li, Ying Kong, Yen-Peng Ting, Qing Chen, Choon Nam Ong

Determination of electrode area and effective current is an important, also an outstanding issue, for reaction progression kinetics analysis of an electrochemical system, especially for a packed-bed electrode usually used in fuel cell processes, the oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen electro-generation, and the oxidation of organics. Herein, we report a novel strategy for the quantitative evaluation of oxidative performance towards a three-dimensional framework, using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses to obtain the electrode area expansion factor (λ) and fractional current applied on an activated carbon particle electrode (β). The two variables acquired through electrochemical tests were extremely approximate to those from simulating experimental data in phenol, helianthin B, and oxalic acid oxidation. These results not only provide an assessment tool for particle electrode performances, but also lead to efficient design, control, and operation of a reaction, thus having implications in improving kinetics within the electrochemistry field. Different roads lead to the same goal: Electrochemical measurements, together with experimental data simulation, independently provide quantitative characterization of a particulate electrode, including relative electrode area and fractional current, which are confirmed to be of mutual verification and equivalence, all leading to design, control, and operation of an expected reaction in a packed-bed electrode system.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/celc.201700513