Gas Diffusion Electrochemical Cell (Three-Electrode System), Model: EC-GDE5

EC-GDE5 Gas Diffusion Electrochemical Cell

A modular multifunctional gas diffusion electrochemical cell with four configurable operating modes.

Product Overview

The EC-GDE5 is a modular electrochemical platform designed for gas-fed electrocatalysis and advanced reactor studies. Its sandwich architecture can be reconfigured for gas-diffusion, solid-electrolyte, membrane-electrode-assembly and metal-air operation. A compact 1.2 mm anode-cathode gap shortens the ionic transport path, supporting reduced cell resistance, controlled mass transport and moderate-to-high-current-density testing.

Key Features

Four-Mode Modular Architecture
Interchangeable sandwich components support four configurable operating modes within a single platform, enabling rapid reconfiguration for diverse electrochemical studies while reducing the need for multiple dedicated reactors.

Compact 1.2 mm Electrode Gap
The shortened ionic transport path helps reduce ohmic loss and supports controlled moderate-to-high-current-density testing.

Robust Titanium-PEEK Construction
High-purity titanium and chemically resistant PEEK provide durable construction for repeated assembly and operation across different electrolyte environments.

Typical Applications

Gas-Fed Electrocatalysis
Evaluating gas-diffusion electrodes for CO₂ reduction and other gas-involved electrochemical reactions at moderate-to-high current densities.

Multimode Electrochemical Reactor Studies
Investigating catalyst performance, mass transport, product collection and operational stability across configurable reactor architectures.

Metal–Air Battery Research
Supporting zinc–air and lithium–air studies, including electrode activity, charge–discharge performance and cycling stability.

Technical Specifications

Instrument Compatibility

Gas and Electrolyte Flow Compatibility
Compatible with regulated gas supplies and electrolyte-circulation systems equipped with mass flow controllers, gas flow meters, peristaltic pumps and gas-liquid mixing pumps.

Potentiostat Compatibility
Compatible with commercial potentiostats supporting three-electrode measurements, including CH Instruments (CHI660E, CHI760E, CHI1140C), Bio-Logic (VMP3), Corrtest Instruments (CS350M), Ivium Technologies (CompactStat.e20250), and Metrohm Autolab (PGSTAT204).

Configurable Operating Modes

CO₂-Reduction Gas-Diffusion Mode
Humidified CO₂ is supplied directly to the gas diffusion electrode, while catholyte and anolyte circulate through separated chambers. A 45° reference-electrode port facilitates bubble release, supporting stable three-electrode measurements with reduced bubble interference.

Solid-Electrolyte Mode
Ion-exchange resin replaces the conventional liquid electrolyte in the central chamber, while paired membranes separate the gas-fed cathode and anode. Serpentine channels increase gas residence time, and pure water carries liquid products out of the reactor for direct collection with minimal supporting-electrolyte contamination.

Membrane-Electrode-Assembly Mode
Removing the central catholyte and reference-electrode sections creates a compact two-plate MEA configuration. The gas diffusion electrode, ion-exchange membrane and porous anode form a close-contact assembly, while serpentine channels extend gas residence time for controlled, long-duration electrolysis.

Metal-Air Battery Mode
Carbon paper is positioned between the gas and electrolyte plates, while zinc or lithium metal is installed in the adjacent compartment. Separate gas and liquid pathways reproduce a classic metal-air architecture for configurable zinc-air and lithium-air testing.

Published Application Example

Potential-Controlled CO₂ Electroreduction to C₁ and C₂+ Products
The EC-GDE5 provided controlled CO₂ delivery and electrolyte circulation for evaluating Al(OH)₃/CuS gas-diffusion electrodes across different potentials and during extended electrolysis. The platform captured a selectivity shift from HCOOH at −0.8 V versus RHE to C₂+ products at −1.2 V versus RHE. The catalyst achieved a maximum C₂+ Faradaic efficiency of 54%, a C₂+ partial current density of 254 mA cm⁻² and stable operation for 14,400 s.

Demonstrated EC-GDE5 Capabilities

• Supports controlled CO₂ delivery and continuous electrolyte circulation for gas-diffusion-electrode evaluation.
• Enables potential-dependent comparison of product selectivity and partial current density.
• Suitable for moderate-to-high-current-density measurements and extended stability testing.

Additional Published Applications

Application studies using this model are currently underway.