A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation
Abstract Although electrochemical technologies offer vast industrial prospects, broader adoption—particularly in consumer applications—remains constrained by high costs and limited component lifespans. Here, we present a gravity-assisted, membrane-free electrochemical oxygen (O2) removal (EOR) react...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59506-7 |
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| author | Peng Li Xin Tang Xin Zhou Changming Zhao Wanyu Shen Yi Tan Deming Li Peng Jiang Fangyao Zhou Zhe Wang Jun Tang Guiqiang Li Yu Zhang Yuen Wu |
| author_facet | Peng Li Xin Tang Xin Zhou Changming Zhao Wanyu Shen Yi Tan Deming Li Peng Jiang Fangyao Zhou Zhe Wang Jun Tang Guiqiang Li Yu Zhang Yuen Wu |
| author_sort | Peng Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although electrochemical technologies offer vast industrial prospects, broader adoption—particularly in consumer applications—remains constrained by high costs and limited component lifespans. Here, we present a gravity-assisted, membrane-free electrochemical oxygen (O2) removal (EOR) reactor coupling oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions. Leveraging fluid mechanics insights, buoyant O2 bubbles ascend rapidly, achieving 95% product self-separation and eliminating the need for membranes or external circulation. To withstand high hydrostatic pressures and ensure a 10-year operational lifespan, we developed an integrative gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with ~85.5% conductivity and 80.2% gas permeability relative to conventional carbon paper, yet 2.2-fold higher mechanical strength and 30-fold greater stability. In a household refrigerator, our two-cell system boosts fresh-keeping capacity by 3.4-fold. Comprehensive economic analysis reveals a 22.6-fold increase in O2 removal per unit cost compared with ion-exchange membrane-based reactors, underscoring this design’s cost-effective, long-lived potential for diverse real-world applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a6a045c0df749c7a211a3c838a5f26e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a6a045c0df749c7a211a3c838a5f26e2025-08-20T03:09:20ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-59506-7A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separationPeng Li0Xin Tang1Xin Zhou2Changming Zhao3Wanyu Shen4Yi Tan5Deming Li6Peng Jiang7Fangyao Zhou8Zhe Wang9Jun Tang10Guiqiang Li11Yu Zhang12Yuen Wu13The Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei Hualing Co., LtdAnhui Entropy Carnot Energy Technology Co., LtdThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei Hualing Co., LtdThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaThe Dermatology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Although electrochemical technologies offer vast industrial prospects, broader adoption—particularly in consumer applications—remains constrained by high costs and limited component lifespans. Here, we present a gravity-assisted, membrane-free electrochemical oxygen (O2) removal (EOR) reactor coupling oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions. Leveraging fluid mechanics insights, buoyant O2 bubbles ascend rapidly, achieving 95% product self-separation and eliminating the need for membranes or external circulation. To withstand high hydrostatic pressures and ensure a 10-year operational lifespan, we developed an integrative gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with ~85.5% conductivity and 80.2% gas permeability relative to conventional carbon paper, yet 2.2-fold higher mechanical strength and 30-fold greater stability. In a household refrigerator, our two-cell system boosts fresh-keeping capacity by 3.4-fold. Comprehensive economic analysis reveals a 22.6-fold increase in O2 removal per unit cost compared with ion-exchange membrane-based reactors, underscoring this design’s cost-effective, long-lived potential for diverse real-world applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59506-7 |
| spellingShingle | Peng Li Xin Tang Xin Zhou Changming Zhao Wanyu Shen Yi Tan Deming Li Peng Jiang Fangyao Zhou Zhe Wang Jun Tang Guiqiang Li Yu Zhang Yuen Wu A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation Nature Communications |
| title | A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation |
| title_full | A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation |
| title_fullStr | A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation |
| title_short | A membrane-free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity-assisted product self-separation |
| title_sort | membrane free electrochemical reactor for efficient oxygen removal via gravity assisted product self separation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59506-7 |
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