Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) Flow Electrolyzer with Two Liquid Flow Chambers for CO2 Electroreduction (CO2RR), CCO2RRGDEFETLFC

In the realm of continuous carbon dioxide reduction (CO₂RR), the two-liquid-chamber Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) flow cell is a highly versatile and heavily researched architecture. While commercial water electrolyzers often push toward a "zero-gap" design (where the electrodes touch the membrane directly to reduce electrical resistance), CO₂ reduction is much more chemically complex. It frequently produces liquid products (like formate, ethanol, or propanol) and suffers from severe pH imbalances. By inserting a flowing liquid chamber on both sides of the membrane, engineers can completely decouple the cathodic and anodic environments.

The two liquid flow chambers provide several advantages: (1) Decoupling the pH Environments: For the anode to produce oxygen efficiently and cheaply, it needs a highly alkaline environment (pH > 13). However, if you pump a highly alkaline electrolyte into the CO₂ cathode chamber, the gaseous CO₂ will instantly react with the hydroxide ions (OH-) to form liquid carbonate (CO3^{2-}), destroying your CO₂ reactant before it can even reach the catalyst. The two-chamber design allows you to run a neutral catholyte (protecting the CO₂ from turning into carbonate) while simultaneously running a highly alkaline anolyte (maximizing OER efficiency at the anode). (2) Liquid Product Extraction: When reducing CO₂ into liquid fuels like formate or alcohols, those products dissolve directly into the catholyte. Because the catholyte is its own isolated flowing loop, the liquid products are swept out of the cell and into a collection tank. If there were no catholyte chamber (a zero-gap design), those liquid products would cross the membrane, enter the anode chamber, and be immediately re-oxidized back into CO₂, destroying your yield. (3) Managing the "Carbonate Crossover" Problem: Even with a neutral catholyte, CO₂RR generates hydroxide ions (OH-) at the catalyst surface. These react with unreacted CO₂ to form bicarbonate/carbonate, which then crosses the Anion Exchange Membrane into the anolyte. This depletes the CO₂ and causes the anolyte to become acidic over time. By having two distinct liquid chambers, engineers can use a Bipolar Membrane (BPM). A BPM actively splits water in the middle of the membrane, sending H+ back into the catholyte (converting the escaped carbonate back into usable CO₂ gas) and sending OH- into the anolyte (maintaining its alkalinity).

Part Number	CCO2RRGDEFETLFC (C-CO2RR-GDEFE-TLFC)
Structure/Components	Four PEEK plates: (a) one is gas diffusion plate with serpentine flow channels; (b) two plates are anolyte and catholyte flow chambers; (c) one is end-plate for supporting.  Electrode frame thickness: 0.5 mm Tubing Connection: Barbed hose fitting (tubing I.D. 2mm, O.D 4mm) Three-electrode configuration, Ag/AgCl reference electrode is included.
Cell Sizes	Default effective area is 2.0 cm * 2.0 cm (4.0 cm2)  Other types of active areas, such as (1.0cm * 1.0cm) (3.0cm * 3.0cm), (4.0cm * 4.0cm), (5cm * 5cm) are also available upon request.   Cell size: W60×H70 mm
Flow Channels	Standard flow channel is Serpentine                Other flow channel types: such as interdigital, parallel serpentine are also available upon request.
Assembling Diagram	The regular PEEK type is shown below.                       The visual acrylic type can be supplied upon request.
Heating Function (Optional)	The heating controller can be integrated with the "heating" version flow cells.
Flow Pump (Optional)	The flow pump can be supplied upon request
Note	The cell components should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after use.