# US 2023/0264148 A1 · Dissociation and recombination catalyst layers for reverse and forward-bias bipolar membranes

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- Number: US 2023/0264148 A1
- Document ID: US20230264148A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/112,868
- Filed: 2023-02-22
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-24
- Assignees: University of Oregon
- Applicants: University of Oregon
- Inventors: Shannon Boettcher; Lihaokun Chen; James Mitchell; Sayantan Sasmal; Nicole Sagui; Prasad Sarma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230264148A1

## CPC

- B01D 61/445: {with bipolar membranes; Water splitting}
- B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C25B 11/052: Electrodes comprising one or more electrocatalytic coatings on a substrate
- C25B 11/077: the compound being a non-noble metal oxide
- C25B 11/091: consisting of at least one catalytic element and at least one catalytic compound; consisting of two or more catalytic elements or catalytic compounds
- C25B 13/02: characterised by shape or form
- C25B 13/05: based on inorganic materials
- C25B 13/07: based on ceramics
- H01M 8/1016: characterised by the electrolyte material (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/1041: Polymer electrolyte composites, mixtures or blends
- H01M 8/1086: After-treatment of the membrane other than by polymerisation
- B01D 69/141: {Heterogeneous membranes, e.g. containing dispersed material; Mixed matrix membranes}
- B01D 69/145: {containing embedded catalysts}
- B01D 2325/10: Catalysts being present on the surface of the membrane or in the pores
- C25B 1/23: Carbon monoxide or syngas
- C25B 3/26: of carbon dioxide
- C25B 13/08: based on organic materials
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

## Abstract

A bipolar membrane comprising a first member comprising at least one anion exchange material; a second member comprising at least one cation exchange material, wherein the first member and the second member together form an interface junction; and disposed within the interface junction a solitary layer comprising a composite water dissociation catalyst or a composite water recombination catalyst.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bipolar membrane comprising a first member comprising at least one anion exchange material; a second member comprising at least one cation exchange material, wherein the first member and the second member together form an interface junction; and disposed within the interface junction a solitary layer comprising a composite water dissociation catalyst or a composite water recombination catalyst.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a mixture or combination of at least two different constituents where the difference is in chemical structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a mixture or combination of at least two different constituents where the difference is in size, shape, chemical composition or surface composition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a first group of nanoparticles having a first chemical structure and a second group of nanoparticles having a second chemical structure that is different than the first chemical structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a first group of nanoparticles having a first size, shape, chemical composition or nanoparticle surface composition, and a second group of nanoparticles having a second size, shape, chemical composition or nanoparticle surface composition that is different than the first size, shape, chemical composition or nanoparticle surface composition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bipolar membrane of claim 5, wherein the first group of nanoparticles comprises oxide nanoparticles and the second group of nanoparticles comprises electrically conducting nanoparticles.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bipolar membrane of claim 6, wherein the first group of nanoparticles titanium dioxide nanoparticles and the second group of nanoparticles comprises electrically conducting carbon nanoparticles.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The bipolar membrane of claim 5, wherein the first group of nanoparticles comprises metallic nanoparticles and the second group of nanoparticles comprises semiconducting nanoparticles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The bipolar membrane of claim 5, wherein the first group of nanoparticles comprises metallic nanoparticles and the second group of nanoparticles comprises oxide nanoparticles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The bipolar membrane of claim 2, wherein the solitary layer comprises a composite water dissociation catalyst comprising a cation-doped or anion-doped TiO2 nanoparticle water dissociation catalyst.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The bipolar membrane of claim 2, wherein the solitary layer comprises a composite water dissociation catalyst comprising a cation-doped or anion-doped SnO2 nanoparticle water dissociation catalyst.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The bipolar membrane of claim 4, wherein the first group of nanoparticles comprises titania nanoparticles and the second group of nanoparticles comprises SnO2 nanoparticles or SiO2 nanoparticles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a mixture or combination of at least two different nanoparticle constituents where the difference is in nanoparticle crystal structure, nanoparticle size, nanoparticle shape and/or nanoparticle density.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the composite water dissociation catalyst or the composite water recombination catalyst comprises a mixture or combination of at least two different nanoparticle constituents where the difference is in nanoparticle surface chemistry.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The bipolar membrane of claim 14, wherein the surface of the nanoparticles is modified with a phosphonic acid, a carboxylate, or an amine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The bipolar membrane of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material is TiO2, In2O3, indium tin oxide, Sb:SnO2, Sn2O3, Ir, IrO2, Pt, Ru, RuO2, Pd, Rh, MnO2, NiO, Al2O3, SiO2, ZnO2, ZrO2, Co2O3, Co:Fe2O3, Fe(OH)3, Pt—Ir(1:1), Pt—Ru(1:1), Ti, Sn, TiC, SnC, TiB2, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

An electrochemical device comprising the bipolar membrane of claim 1.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The electrochemical device of claim 17, wherein the bipolar membrane is configured to promote dissociation of water.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The electrochemical device of claim 17, wherein the bipolar membrane is configured to promote recombination of water.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A method comprising hydrating the bipolar membrane of claim 1, and applying a reverse electrochemical bias to the bipolar membrane thereby dissociating water at the bipolar membrane interface junction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A method comprising introducing H+ into the at least one cation exchange material of the bipolar membrane of claim 1, introducing OH− into the at least one anion exchange material, and applying a forward electrochemical bias to the bipolar membrane thereby recombining water at the bipolar membrane interface junction.