Metal hollow fiber electrode

Abstract

The invention is directed to a metal hollow fiber electrode, to a method of electrolyzing carbon dioxide in an aqueous electrochemical cell, to a method of converting carbon dioxide, to a method of preparing a metal hollow fiber, to a use of a metal hollow fiber electrode. The metal hollow fiber electrode comprises aggregated copper particles forming an interconnected three-dimensional porous structure, wherein said metal comprises copper.

1 . A metal hollow fiber electrode, comprising aggregated copper particles forming an interconnected three-dimensional porous structure, wherein said metal comprises copper. 
     
     
         2 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal is copper. 
     
     
         3 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have an inner diameter of 0.1-10 mm. 
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have an outer diameter of 0.1-10 mm. 
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers comprises or is composed of sintered copper particles. 
     
     
         10 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said copper particles have an average particle diameter of 0.1-10 μm. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein a porous outer layer of the hollow fiber is more dense than a porous inner layer of the hollow fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer has a thickness in the range of 5-20 μm. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of electrolyzing carbon dioxide in an aqueous electrochemical cell comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises one or more metal hollow fiber electrodes according to  claim 1 , said method comprising
 applying a potential between said anode and cathode, and   purging CO 2  or a gas mixture comprising CO 2  through the wall of the metal hollow fiber electrode.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said method is performed in an aqueous environment. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said method is performed at a temperature in the range of 5-80° C. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of converting carbon dioxide into one or more selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, formic acid, a formate, methanol, acetaldehyde, methane, ethylene and ethane, comprising electrolyzing CO 2  by a method according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein carbon dioxide is converted into carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         24 . A method of preparing a metal hollow fiber electrode according to  claim 1 , comprising
 spinning a mixture comprising copper particles, polymer and solvent together with a bore liquid to obtain hollow fibers;   subjecting the hollow fibers to a thermal treatment such that copper particles are sintered together, thereby yielding hollow copper oxide fibers;   hydrogenating the hollow copper oxide fibers.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said thermal treatment comprises subjecting the hollow fibers to a temperature of 500-800° C. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hollow fibers are subjected to said thermal treatment for a period of 1-6 hours. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said hydrogenation comprises subjecting the hollow copper oxide fibers to a temperature of 200-400° C. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hollow copper oxide fibers are hydrogenated for a period of 30-120 minutes. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hollow copper oxide fibers are hydrogenated in a flow of hydrogen in the concentration range of 0-100 vol. %. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hollow copper oxide fibers are hydrogenated in a flow of hydrogen in a concentration of 5 vol. % in a balance gas. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)