A long-term-stable continuous flow electrochemical ozone generator with high current efficiency

Renewable-energy-powered electrochemical ozone production (EOP) by water splitting is an eco-friendly and promising technology. An ozone generator with long-term stable operation, high ozone output, and low production energy is therefore desired. Herein, an electrolyser based on a polymer electrolyte membrane and assisted by a high-performance advanced nano PbO2 gas diffusion electrode was investigated. In this work, by comparing the catalyst supports of the PbO2 gas diffusion electrode and adjusting the catalyst polymeric binders and catalyst loading content, O-3 formation with up to 20% current efficiency was achieved at a cell potential of 3.2 V with 150 mA cm(-2) partial current density for O-3 generation. The electrolyser with a nano PbO2 anode has extremely high stability for 500 hours at 300 mA cm(-2) with 23% current efficiency for O-3 generation. This work shows the great potential of nano PbO2 membrane electrodes for electrochemical ozone production by water splitting in a full-cell. The strategy sheds light on the possibility of scale-up from the lab scale to industrial production and further development of ozone generators aiming towards commercialization.