Method of stabilizing electrodes coated with mixed oxide electrocatalysts during use in electrochemical cells

Abstract

An electrochemical cell with an electrode having deposited thereon an electrocatalyst which is a mixed oxide of nickel-molydenum, nickel-tungsten, cobalt-molydenum or cobalt-tungsten and containing an aqueous alkaline electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of a molybdenum, vanadium or tungsten compound. The electrodes are preferably prepared by alternately coating an electrode core with a compound of nickel or cobalt, and with a compound of molydenum or tungsten, said compounds being capable of thermal decomposition to the corresponding oxides, heating the coated core at an elevated temperature to form a layer of the mixed oxides on the core and finally curing the core with the mixed oxide layer thereon in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature between 350.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. The cells are particularly suitable for use in the electrolysis of water or brine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.