DataVXACS Energy LettersPaper
journal article·2026-06-12Open access

Sunken-Serpentine Flow-Field Engineering Unlocks Ampere-Level CO 2 Electrolysis via Local CO 2 Enrichment and Water Management

Hyun Chul Kim, Hyeonggeon Lee, Jaeyong Park, Woong Hee Lee, Hyeonuk Choi, Jihun Oh, Man Ho Han, Cheoulwoo Oh, Min Gwan Ha, Eunsol Kang, Woong Kim, Ki Bong Lee, Jae-Young Choi, Ung Lee, Young-Jin Ko, Hyung-Suk Oh

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 11· Issue 6
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Source abstract

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) on Ag catalysts requires a balance among a high current density, high CO selectivity, and stability. Maximizing catalytic site utilization requires uniform CO 2 penetration across the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) while suppressing flooding. This work elucidates the interplay between mass transport and water management in zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers through flow plate engineering. We demonstrate that in-plane CO 2 injection enhances catalyst utilization by improving gas accessibility and facilitating water removal. Using a sunken-serpentine flow plate, we achieved a stable operation exceeding 1 A cm –2 with minimal hydrogen evolution. CO partial current densities reached 861 and 947 mA cm –2 for Ag and Ni-NC catalysts, respectively─34.5% and 18.3% higher than conventional designs. These results are supported by transport modeling and X-ray computed tomography, revealing the CO 2 concentration gradients and flooding dynamics. Our findings establish a broadly applicable design strategy to overcome mass-transport limitations.
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Research context

Catalysis & surfaces

OpenAlex topics: CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts · Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems · Catalysts for Methane Reforming

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarang-ro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

Bioenergy and Resources Upcycling Research Laboratory

Korea Institute of Energy Research

Division of Energy and Environmental Technology, KIST School

Korea University of Science and Technology (UST)

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea

School of Chemistry

Monash UniversityClayton

Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Center

Hydrogen Energy Institute, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER)

School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066,Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16419, Republic of Korea

KIST-SKKU Carbon-Neutral Research Center

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)

Green School, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering

Yonsei University

Funding

Ministry of Education · National Research Council of Science and Technology · National Research Foundation of Korea · Korea Institute of Science and Technology · Gangwon State Republic of Korea

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