Electrochemical Engineering Assessment of a Novel 3D-Printed Filter-Press Electrochemical Reactor for Multipurpose Laboratory Applications

Flow devices fabricated by means of 3D-printing offer an economic and effective approach for testing different electrochemical systems at the laboratory scale. Here, the fabrication and optimization of a novel filter-press electrochemical reactor is described. 3D-printing is used to obtain critical components of the device as a sustainable and efficient manufacturing approach. Hydrodynamics and mass transfer of different flow distributors, turbulence promoters, and nickel foam, as a three-dimensional (3D) electrode, were evaluated by a convenient set of well-known techniques for filter-press reactor characterization. Furthermore, the chemical stability of 3D-printed materials was assessed in several electrolytes used for common electrochemical applications. Designed configurations and geometries exhibited enhanced turbulence and large mass transfer coefficients, which make them adequate for processes such as electrosynthesis, electrodeposition, and electrochemical water splitting. Ultimately, superior performance was validated for nickel foam, demonstrating robustness of the reactor for realistic evaluation of electrocatalytic materials. Therefore, the proposed electrochemical reactor provides a low-cost and versatile alternative for testing electrochemical systems in a wide range of applications.