This paper reports a mathematical model for calculating various losses in a pH differential microfluidic electrolytic cell (PMEC) for CO₂ to formic acid conversion. The microfluidic characteristics of the cell were examined, and in respect of electro-chemical equilibrium states, major limiting factors such as mass transfer constraints, kinetic losses and overpotentials, were considered and acid–base interface and neutralisation losses therein identified. Losses of electrical resistance on electrodes and within micro-channels were quantified, and computational results were validated against previous experimental data. To the best of our knowledge, the model is the first for determining dual electrolyte arrangements and associated losses and can be used to develop parametric optimisation strategies.

本文报告了一种数学模型，用于计算pH差异微流电解池（PMEC）中从CO ₂到甲酸转化的各种损失。检查了电池的微流体特性，就电化学平衡状态而言，考虑了主要的限制因素，例如传质限制，动力学损失和过电势，并在其中确定了酸碱界面和中和损失。量化了电极和微通道内电阻的损失，并针对先前的实验数据验证了计算结果。据我们所知，该模型是第一个用于确定双重电解质排列和相关损耗的模型，可用于开发参数优化策略。