Carbonized charcoal electrode
AssigneeUniversity of Hawaii
InventorMichael J. Antal, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (1) for use of carbonized charcoal powder as an electrode is provided. Charcoal is provided as a powder, carbonized, and placed in a container (16) by which compressive pressure is applied to the carbonized-charcoal powder via one or more sides of the container (16). As a result of the compressive pressure the packed-bed (11) of carbonized-charcoal powder manifests a resistivity of less than about 1 ohm-cm and is suitable for use as an electrode in a fuel cell, battery or electrolyzer. The apparatus is adapted with electrical contacts (8, 9, 10) to conduct electric flow to or from the electrode and adapted for communication of an electrolyte with the electrode.
Claims16
An electrode comprising
- a housing containing a bed of carbonized charcoal powder having a proximal, distal and at least one side surface;
- a moveable piston in contact with said proximal surface of said bed for applying compressive force to said bed to compress said bed sufficiently to reduce the resistivity of said bed to less than about 1 ohm-cm;
- at least one electrical contact with said bed to conduct electric current flow into or out of said bed;
- a device for applying a force to said moveable piston sufficient to cause surface pressure against said bed of at least about 1 Mpa;
- and a porous wall in contact with said bed to conduct liquid or gaseous electrolyte to and from said bed.
A method for forming a carbonized charcoal powder electrode comprising the steps of
- i) loading carbonized charcoal powder which has been carbonized at a temperature above about 900° C. into an apparatus having at least one electrical contact with said powder for providing flow of electricity to or from said powder
- and said apparatus being adapted for communication of an electrolyte with said powder;
- and
- ii) applying a compressive force to said powder in said apparatus sufficient to form a compressed bed wherein said bed is characterized by a resistivity of less than about 1 ohm-cm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.