US 4,537,674 A · Electrolytic cell anode

Abstract

An improved anode for acting as a catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction in water electrolysis. The anode provides lower overvoltages, good kinetics, chemical and mechanical stability, low heat of oxygen adsorption and low operating costs. The anode material is formed from a host matrix including at least one transition element, preferably Co, Ni or Mn, which is structurally modified by incorporating one or more modifier elements, one of which may also be a transition element, to improve its catalytic properties. Modifier elements, including for example Co, Ni, Sr, Li, In, K, Sn, C, O, Mn, Ru and Al structurally modify the local chemical environments of the host matrix to provide a material having an increased density of catalytically active sites. The catalytic material can be formed by vacuum deposition techniques such as by cosputtering the host matrix and modifier elements to form a layer of catalytic material on an electrode substrate. The material may also include a leachable modifier element, such as Li, Al or Zn, which is partially removed to further modify the material and enhance its catalytic activity. After formation, the material may be subjected to a heat treatment in an oxygen containing atmosphere and/or subjected to an electrochemical treatment such as a cathodic treatment or a rapid anodic-cathodic pulsing to increase the catalytic activity of the material by forming highly active oxides. The electrochemical treatments significantly lower the overvoltages exhibited by the anodes of the present invention.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multicomponent compositionally disordered catalytic material for use as an anode catalyst in an electrolytic cell comprising:

a host element having at least one transition element,
said host matrix having incorporated therein one or more modifier elements, said modifier element selected from a group consisting of Co, Ni, Sr, Li, K, In, Sn, C, Mn, Ru and Al, said modifier element modifying the local structural and chemical environments throughout the bulk of said material to provide the disorder and create an increased density of catalytically active sites for oxygen gas evolution in an electrolytic cell, said material having at least one amorphous phase, microcrystalline phase, polycrystalline phase lacking long-range compositional order, or any combination of these phases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrolytic cell anode

Life of this patent

Electrolytic cell anode

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20