Aluminium-based electrochemical cell captures carbon emissions and generates electricity

Two researchers at Cornell University has created an innovative aluminium-based electrochemical cell. The cell captures and separates carbon dioxide while generating a large amount of electricity simultaneously. The researchers, Wajdi Al Sadat and Lynden Archer describe the cell, its benefits and its technology in a paper published in the journal Science Advances.

They believe their innovation to be much better than other carbon-capturing cells. Scientists have been working constantly to control, carbon emission, with considerable success. Another group of scientists are taking a different approach to the issue and trying to find a way out to separate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in an economically plausible manner. The Cornell University report provides a cell technology that differs significantly in approach.

The researchers till date have used magnesium, lithium or sodium as an anode to form a carbon dioxide removing cell. They achieved working results but they produced carbonates at the same time. To find a solution to this issue, the researchers used aluminium foil to make the anode, while the cathode was made of stainless steel mesh and the electrolyte was formed by an ionic liquid with some aluminium chloride salt.

During the testing of the cell, they found that it was capable of generating up to 13 ampere-hours for every gram of carbon that it captured. They also pointed out that the process took place without the help of any sort of catalyst and at room temperature. The output produced from the system was aluminium oxalate which can be used to make oxalic acid which is a commercially viable product.

The researchers pointed out one serious shortcoming in the cell at present that it won't function if water is present in the mix of gasses it pulls in, which is very common in a real world situation. They are now working on a type of electrolyte that is less sensitive to moisture.

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