Issue 14, 2024

Electrochemical valorization of HCl for the production of chlorine via a proton-filter functional covalent organic framework

Abstract

Chlorine (Cl2) is one of the prime building blocks for several industrially important chemicals and engineering materials. HCl electrolysis is a well established technology for the production of Cl2 at the anode. However, combining it with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode results in both high energy consumption and safety risks during unexpected shutdowns. Herein, we demonstrated the feasibility of integrating the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) together with the oxygen-depolarized cathode (ODC) by utilizing a nitrogen-rich two-dimensional in situ proton filter functional covalent organic framework (COF, Tta-Dfp) to suppress the HER. The as-synthesized Tta-Dfp COF was explored as a bifunctional catalyst towards the ODC and Cl2 evolution and exhibited outstanding activity towards Cl2 evolution with a faradaic efficiency of 92% and demonstrated excellent stability in a corrosive environment even under multiple shut-downs under mimicked industrial conditions. Furthermore, the visualization of the local electrocatalytic activity of the designed COF was analysed by redox competition mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (RC-SECM) using a Pt ultra-microelectrode and extended to state-of-the-art electrocatalyst, Pt/C (20%). The 3D SECM images demonstrate the excellent stability of the Tta-Dfp catalyst in chlorine rich electrolyte. Therefore, metal-free catalysis for Cl2 production by integrating the two electrochemical processes with the added advantage of energy saving is a promising cost-effective approach.

Graphical abstract: Electrochemical valorization of HCl for the production of chlorine via a proton-filter functional covalent organic framework

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 nov 2023
Accepted
17 jan 2024
First published
06 mar 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 8516-8525

Electrochemical valorization of HCl for the production of chlorine via a proton-filter functional covalent organic framework

S. Kaur, K. C. Ranjeesh, K. Garg, S. Gaber, S. Mehta, T. C. Nagaiah and D. Shetty, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 8516 DOI: 10.1039/D3TA06948F

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