# US 8,465,633 B2 · Process for activating a diamond-based electrode, electrode thus obtained and uses thereof

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

- Number: US 8,465,633 B2
- Document ID: US8465633B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/602,345
- Filed: 2008-06-05
- Published: 2011-05-12
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-05
- Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
- Applicants: Jacques De Sanoit; Emilie Vanhove
- Inventors: Jacques De Sanoit; Emilie Vanhove
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465633B2

## CPC

- C02F 1/46109: {Electrodes}
- G01N 27/38: Cleaning of electrodes
- C02F 1/4672: {by electrooxydation}
- C02F 2001/46133: {characterised by the material}
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for activating a diamond-based electrode, which includes a step consisting in subjecting, in the presence of an aqueous solution containing an ionic electrolyte, said electrode to an alternately cathodic and anodic polarization potential, of increasing amplitude so as to obtain an anodic and cathodic current density of between 10 μA/cm2 and 1 mA/cm2. The present invention also relates to a diamond-based electrode activated by said process and to the uses thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for activating or for restoring electrochemical reactivity of a diamond-based electrode, comprising:
subjecting, in the presence of an aqueous solution containing an ionic electrolyte, said electrode to at least one cycle of an alternately cathodic and anodic polarization potential; and
increasing an amplitude of said potential from an equilibrium potential so as to obtain an anodic and cathodic current density of between 10 μA/cm2 and 1 mA/cm2.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein said diamond-based electrode consists only of monocrystalline diamond, macrocrystalline diamond, microcrystalline diamond, nanocrystalline diamond or ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein a portion of said diamond-based electrode comprises monocrystalline diamond-, macrocrystalline diamond-, microcrystalline diamond-, nanocrystalline diamond- or ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said diamond-based electrode comprises at least one diamond doped by a dopant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein said dopant is chosen from the group consisting of boron, nitrogen, phosphorus, nickel, and sulphur and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said ionic electrolyte is a non-electroactive ionic electrolyte.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein said non-electroactive ionic electrolyte is a non-electroactive salt chosen from the group consisting of LiClO4, NaClO4, KClO4, Na2SO4, K2SO4, and Li2SO4.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said aqueous solution containing an ionic electrolyte is deaerated before said step of subjecting.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a first potential to which the diamond-based electrode is subjected is a cathodic polarization potential.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the step of increasing the amplitude of the potential to which the diamond-based electrode is subjected comprises increasing the amplitude of the potential in increments of between 50 mV and 150 mV.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:
a subsequent step of subjecting, when a desired anodic and cathodic current density is reached, said electrode to at least one alternately cathodic and anodic polarization potential cycle of constant amplitude.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein a final potential to which said electrode is subjected is an anodic polarization potential which reaches the equilibrium potential (OCP).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the rate at which cathodic polarization and anodic polarization for each potential is carried out is between 50 and 150 mV/s.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1,
wherein the method is implemented using a three-electrode arrangement having a reference electrode, a working electrode which corresponds to said diamond-based electrode, and a counterelectrode.