Amorphous metallic glass electrodes for electrochemical processes

• US 6,303,015 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald W. Kirk, Steven J. Thorpe
• Original Assignee: Donald W. Kirk, Steven J. Thorpe
• Inventors: Kirk, Donald W., Thorpe, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorgos, Kathryn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Wesley A.
• Application Number:
  US09/459,381
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 205/630, 205/631, 205/632, 420/441, 420/454, 204/291
• US Class Current: 205/630
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 45/04 with nickel or cobalt as the major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/04 characterised by the material

Abstract

Metallic glass/amorphous metal electrodes produced by rapid solidification (i) having a structure that is either amorphous or nanocrystalline, (ii) containing tile principal alloying element as Ni, (iii) containing alloying additions of Co and at least one member of group IVB, VB, VIB VIIB and/or VIIIB, preferably Cr and V, in the range of 0 to 20 at. %, and when combined with Ni, represent 0.75 to 0.85 of the atomic fraction of the alloy, and (iv) containing metalloid elements comprised preferably of one or more of the elements C, B, Si and P either singly or in combination to represent 0.15 to 0.25 atomic faction of the alloy. The electrodes have excellent thermal stability, improved stability in an aqueous electrolyte and can provide improved current efficiency—anodic overpotential performance. They are used in the electrolysis of aqueous electrolyte solutions such as mixtures of caustic and water in the production of oxygen and hydrogen.

Claims

1. A metallic glass of use in electrochemical processes, said metallic glass consisting essentially of a homogeneous material of the general nominal composition

2. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 wherein A is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Zr, Nb, Tc, Ta, and W.

3. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 2 wherein x is selected from about 1 to 5 atomic percent.

4. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 wherein Z is at least one member selected from the group consisting of silicon, phosphorus, carbon, and boron.

5. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 4 where in t is about 20 atomic percent.

6. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Ni, Co, A and Z are in a substantially elemental state.

7. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 consisting essentially of a material having the nominal composition of Ni₅₀Co₂₅Cr₅B₂₀.

8. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 consisting essentially of a material having the nominal composition of Ni₅₀Co₂₅V₅B₂₀.

9. A metallic glass as claimed in claim 1 consisting essentially of a material having the preferred nominal composition of Ni₄₅Co₂₅V₅Cr₅B₂₀.

10. An electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a metallic glass consisting essentially of a material as claimed in claim 1.

11. An electrode as claimed in claim 10 comprising a support and on at least a portion of said support a coating comprising said metallic glass.

12. An electrode as claimed in claim 10 in the form of a self-supporting structure.

13. An electrode as claimed in claim 10 wherein said electrochemical cell is for the electrochemical production of oxygen and hydrogen from an aqueous solution.

14. An improved process for the electrochemical production of oxygen and hydrogen from an aqueous solution in an electrochemical cell, said process comprising electrolysing said aqueous solution with electrodes, said improvement comprising one or more of said electrodes comprising a metallic glass consisting essentially of a material as claimed in claim 1.