Operando Synchrotron Imaging of Electrolyte Distribution in Silver-Based Gas Diffusion Electrodes During Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Highly Alkaline Media

Understanding how gas diffusion electrodes are working is crucial to improve their performance and cost efficiency. One key issue is the electrolyte distribution during operation. Here, operando synchrotron imaging of the electrolyte distribution in silver-based gas diffusion electrodes is presented. For this purpose, a half-cell compartment was designed for operando synchrotron imaging of chronoamperometric measurements. For the first time, the electrolyte distribution could be analyzed in real time (1 s time resolution) even in individual pores as small as a few micrometers. The detailed analyses of dynamic filling processes are an important step for understanding and improving electrodes.