BREATHABLE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR USE IN WATER SPLITTING

• US 20190093244A1
• Filed: 09/28/2018
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EDAC Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquahydrex Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Winther-Jensen, Bjorn, MacFarlane, Douglas, Winther-Jensen, Orawan
• Granted Patent: US 10,577,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/00 Electrodes; Manufacture thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/031 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/073 characterised by the electrocatalyst material
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/095 at least one of the compounds being organic
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/23 comprising ion-exchange membranes in or on which electrode material is embedded
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water splitting cell having at least one electrode comprising a porous membrane, wherein gas produced at the electrode diffuses out of the cell via the porous membrane, separating the gas from the reaction at the electrode without bubble formation.

Claims

1. A water splitting cell having at least one electrode comprising a porous membrane, wherein gas produced at the at least one electrode diffuses out of the cell via the porous membrane.

2. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein greater than 90% of the gas produced at the at least one electrode is removed from the cell across the porous membrane.

3. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein greater than 95% of the gas produced at the at least one electrode is removed from the cell across the porous membrane.

4. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein greater than 99% of the gas produced at the at least one electrode is removed from the cell across the porous membrane.

5. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the gas produced is separated from the at least one electrode without substantial bubble formation.

6. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the gas produced forms bubbles no larger than 125 μ

m.

7. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the gas produced forms bubbles no larger than 100 μ

m.

8. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the gas produced forms bubbles no larger than 50 μ

m.

9. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, having a cathode comprising a porous membrane, wherein H₂ gas produced at the cathode diffuses out of the cell via the porous membrane, separating the H₂ gas from the cathodic reaction without bubble formation.

10. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, having an anode comprising a porous membrane, wherein O₂ gas produced at the anode diffuses out of the cell via the porous membrane, separating the O₂ gas from the anodic reaction without bubble formation.

11. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the porous membrane is at least partly hydrophobic.

12. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the porous membrane has a thin-film coating.

13. The water splitting cell according to claim 12, wherein the thin-film coating is hydrophobic.

14. The water splitting cell according to claim 12, wherein the thin-film coating is chosen from the group comprising silicone-fluoropolymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or its copolymers with fluoromonomers, PDD-TFE (perfluoro-2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxole with tetrafluoroethylene), polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, nylon 8,8, nylon 9,9, polystyrene, polyvinylidene fluoride, poly n-butyl methacrylates, polytrifluoroethylene, nylon 10,10, polybutadiene, polyethylene polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polypropylene, polydimethylsiloxane, poly t-butyl methacrylates, fluorinated ethylene propylene, hexatriacontane, paraffin, polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(hexafluoropropylene), polyisobutylene or combinations thereof.

15. The water splitting cell according to claim 11, wherein the porous membrane comprises conducting carbon material.

16. The water splitting cell according to claim 11, wherein the porous membrane has a pore size of less than 0.5 μ

m.

17. The water splitting cell according to claim 11, wherein the porous membrane has a pore size of less than 0.1 μ

m.

18. The water splitting cell according to claim 11, wherein the porous membrane has a pore size of less than 0.05 μ

m.

19. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, which further includes a catalyst associated with the porous membrane.

20. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is chosen from the group comprising Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, Ir, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, NiO_x, Mn complexes, Fe complexes, MoS_x, CdS, CdSe, and GaAs.

21. The water splitting cell according to claim 1, having:

a cathode comprising a first porous membrane,

an anode comprising a second porous membrane,

at least one electrolyte for immersion of the cathode and the anode,

wherein gas is produced at the cathode and the anode without substantial bubble formation and diffuses out of the cell via the porous membranes.

22. A method of splitting water with a water splitting cell, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a cathode comprising a first porous membrane,

providing an anode comprising a second porous membrane,

immersing the cathode and anode in at least one electrolyte, and

passing a current through the anode and the cathode,

wherein O₂ gas produced at the anode diffuses out of the cell via the second porous membrane,

and, wherein H₂ gas produced at the cathode diffuses out of the cell via the first porous membrane.

23. A method for generating hydrogen in a water splitting cell, the method comprising:

producing hydrogen gas at a first electrode,

diffusing the hydrogen gas out of the cell via a first porous membrane, and

separating the hydrogen gas produced without substantial bubble formation.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein more than 90% of the gas is separated at the electrode by transporting the gas across the porous membrane adjacent a catalytic surface.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the gas is separated without bubble formation of bubbles larger than 125 μ

m.

24. A method for generating oxygen in a water splitting cell, the method comprising:

producing oxygen gas at a second electrode,

diffusing the oxygen gas out of the cell via a second porous membrane, and

separating the oxygen gas produced without substantial bubble formation.