Hydrogen generation by electrolysis of aqueous organic solutions

• US 6,533,919 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Valdez, Thomas I., Narayanan, Sekharipuram R., Chun, William, Jeffries-Nakamura, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Wesley A.
• Application Number:
  US09/686,444
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 205/637, 205/638, 205/639
• US Class Current: 205/637
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/23 comprising ion-exchange membranes in or on which electrode material is embedded
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

A method for electrolysis of an aqueous solution of an organic fuel. The electrolyte is a solid-state polymer membrane with anode and cathode catalysts on both surfaces for electro-oxidation and electro-reduction.

Claims

1. A method of generating hydrogen gas, comprising:

providing an electrolysis cell which comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode;

circulating an organic fuel and water around said anode, wherein the organic fuel is selected from the group consisting of dimethoxymethane, trimethoxymethane, trioxane, formaldehyde, and formic acid;

supplying a DC electrical current to said anode and cathode;

inducing electro-oxidation of said organic fuel at said anode to produce protons; and

initiating electro-reduction of said protons at said cathode to produce hydrogen.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said inducing electro-oxidation of said organic fuel is accomplished by applying an anode catalyst on said anode, said anode catalyst selected from the group consisting of a platinum, a ruthenium, a platinum-ruthenium alloy, and a platinum-ruthenium particulate mixture.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein said anode catalyst is applied on said anode with a loading approximately from 0.1 mg/cm² to 4.0 mg/cm².

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said inducing electro-reduction of said protons is accompanied by applying a cathode catalyst on said cathode which includes platinum.