Scaffold for an ion-conductive membrane

A method for assembling a membrane scaffold, the method comprising:

• providing a thermoplastic plate defining at least one orifice, wherein the orifice is defined by a first aperture having a first diameter, a second aperture having a second diameter, and a third aperture having a third diameter, wherein the second aperture is disposed between the first aperture and the third aperture, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter and the third diameter;
• providing an ion-conductive ceramic membrane, wherein at an operating temperature the ceramic membrane has a fourth diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the first aperture and the third diameter of the third aperture;
• heating the scaffold to a sufficient temperature above the operating temperature and for a sufficient period of time to cause the third diameter of the third aperture to become larger than the forth diameter of the ceramic membrane;
• placing the ceramic membrane within the orifice;
• and
• allowing the scaffold to cool so that an outermost perimeter of the ceramic membrane is edge sealed with an inner surface of the second orifice and the third diameter of the third aperture contracts to be smaller than the fourth width of the ceramic membrane.

An electrochemical cell comprising a membrane scaffold, the cell comprising:

• a first flow promoter comprising a cathode electrode;
• a second flow promoter comprising an anode electrode;
• and
• a membrane scaffold disposed between the first flow promoter and the second flow promoter, wherein the membrane scaffold comprises:
• a thermoplastic plate defining at least one orifice, wherein the orifice is defined by a first aperture having a first diameter, a second aperture having a second diameter, and a third aperture having a third diameter, wherein the second aperture is disposed between the first aperture and the third aperture, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter and the third diameter, and wherein the first diameter is smaller than the third diameter;
• and
• an ion-conductive ceramic membrane disposed within the second aperture of the orifice in a manner such that an outermost perimeter of the ceramic membrane is edge sealed with an inner surface of the second aperture, wherein, at an operating temperature, the ceramic membrane has a fourth diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the first aperture and the third diameter of the third aperture.