# US 4,395,322 A · Catalytic electrode

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,395,322 A
- Document ID: US4395322A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/322,482
- Filed: 1981-11-18
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1981-11-18
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Lawrence A. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395322A

## CPC

- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- C25B 11/04: characterised by the material
- H01M 4/8817: {Treatment of supports before application of the catalytic active composition (coated porous composites H01M8/0245)}
- H01M 4/8871: {Sputtering}
- H01M 10/52: Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption (vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M50/30)
- H01M 8/0232: Metals or alloys
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A catalytic electrode is produced by sputter etching the surface of a conductor with ions of an inert gas to remove oxide therefrom and introduce disorder into the surface making it chemically reactive and depositing a catalytic metal on the etched surface of the conductor in at least a catalytic amount.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of a supporting electrical conductor carrying an adherent catalytic metal in a thickness of at least about 10 Angstroms and in at least a catalytic amount on a predetermined surface thereof, said electrical conductor being selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium, tantalum, and niobium, and said catalytic metal being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, nickel, rhodium, and iridium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A catalytic electrode according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic metal is in the form of discrete islands.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A catalytic electrode according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic metal is in the form of a continuous interconnected network.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A catalytic electrode according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic metal has a thickness of at least about 20 Angstroms and is in the form of a continuous solid film.

### Claim 5

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor of silicon supporting adherent platinum on a predetermined surface thereof, said platinum being present in at least a catalytic amount and having a thickness of at least about 10 Angstroms.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A catalytic electrode according to claim 5 wherein said platinum is in the form of discrete islands.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A catalytic electrode according to claim 5 wherein said platinum is in the form of a continuous interconnecting network.

### Claim 8

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor of silicon supporting an adherent continuous film of platinum on a predetermined surface thereof, said platinum film having a thickness of at least about 20 Angstroms.

### Claim 9

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor supporting an adherent catalytic metal in a thickness of at least about 10 Angstroms and in at least a catalytic amount on a predetermined surface thereof, said electrical conductor being selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium, tantalum, and niobium, said catalytic metal being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, nickel, rhodium, and iridium, and any exposed surface of said electrical conductor having a protective oxide thereon.

### Claim 10

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor supporting an adherent continuous film of a catalytic metal in a thickness of at least about 20 Angstroms on a predetermined surface thereof, said electrical conductor being selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium, tantalum, and niobium, said catalytic metal being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, nickel, rhodium, and iridium, and any exposed surface of said electrical conductor having a protective oxide thereon.

### Claim 11

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor of silicon supporting adherent platinum on a predetermined surface thereof, said platinum being present in at least a catalytic amount and having a thickness of at least about 10 Angstroms, and any exposed surface of said silicon having a protective oxide thereon.

### Claim 12

A catalytic electrode consisting essentially of an electrical conductor of silicon supporting an adherent continuous film of platinum on a predetermined surface thereof, said platinum film having a thickness of at least about 20 Angstroms, and any exposed surface of said silicon having a protective oxide thereon.