Breakthrough in Electrochemical Research: Novel 3D-Printed Cell for Operando Synchrotron Experiments

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have made a significant discovery in the field of electrochemistry, developing a novel 3D-printed electrochemical cell for operando synchrotron experiments. This innovative cell enables enhanced faradaic efficiencies and operando measurements under conditions that closely resemble scalable flow systems. The research aims to study fundamental electrochemical processes under realistic and scalable conditions, paving the way for the development of more efficient and sustainable electrochemical technologies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers have designed a novel 3D-printed electrochemical cell that integrates a single-crystal working electrode with a gas diffusion counter electrode, enabling enhanced faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of up to 37% for ammonia production.
  • The cell's design improves nitrogen availability and suppresses undesirable counter electrode reactions through the hydrogen oxidation reaction.
  • The 3D-printing process using polyether ether ketone (PEEK) allows for complex electrolyte flow geometries while maintaining minimal X-ray background interference, critical for X-ray-based techniques.
  • The operando characterization technique is crucial for studying dynamic changes at the electrode-electrolyte interface, overcoming the limitations of ex-situ methods.
  • The novel cell is optimized for operando synchrotron X-ray studies of the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction.
  • The research team consisted of Niklas H. Deissler, Valentin Vinci, Jon Bjarke Valbak Mygind, Xianbiao Fu, Shaofeng Li, Jakob Kibsgaard, Jakub Drnec, and Ib Chorkendorff.
  • The study's findings have significant implications for the development of more efficient and sustainable electrochemical technologies.

Statistics:

  • The novel 3D-printed electrochemical cell achieved faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of up to 37% for ammonia production.
  • The cell design improved nitrogen availability by (no specific data available).
  • The X-ray-based technique used in the study required minimal X-ray background interference, critical for accurate measurements.
  • The study focused on the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction in operando synchrotron X-ray studies.
  • The research was published in the journal Next Energy, Volume 2025, Issue 8 (no specific page number available).

Sources:

  • A novel 3D-printed electrochemical cell for operando synchrotron experiments. Next Energy, 2025,8():100279. The publisher for Next Energy is Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxener.2025.100279
  • NewsRx. Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Researchers Target Physics (A novel 3D-printed electrochemical cell for operando synchrotron experiments). Physics Week. July 8, 2025; p 6268.