# US 9,988,727 B2 · Composite electrodes for the electrolysis of water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,988,727 B2 - Document ID: US9988727B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/419,005 - Filed: 2013-08-02 - Published: 2015-07-09 - Granted: 2018-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-03 - Assignees: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique; Universite De Montpellier; Bulane - Applicants: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique; Universite De Montpellier; Bulane - Inventors: Alexandra Patru; Frederic Favier; Nicolas Jerez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9988727B2 ## CPC - C25B 11/04: characterised by the material - C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water - C25B 1/044: producing mixed hydrogen and oxygen gas, e.g. Brown's gas [HHO] - C25B 11/03: perforated or foraminous - C25B 11/051: Electrodes formed of electrocatalysts on a substrate or carrier - C25B 11/095: at least one of the compounds being organic - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines - Y02P 20/133: Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract An electrode is provided that is suitable for use with the electrolysis of water in a liquid electrolyte medium, the electrode formulated by the following formulation method: a) dissolving, in a volatile solvent or a mixture of volatile solvents, at least one ion-conducting polymer binder that allows, in the solid state, the diffusion of the gases formed during electrolysis; b) adding, to the solution obtained in step a), at least one electrocatalytic material in the form of divided powder, in order to obtain a mixture; and c) depositing the mixture obtained in step b) on a metallic or metallic-type conductive support or collector, said support or said collector being openwork and chemically stable in an aqueous medium, steps a) and b) being able to be implemented simultaneously, successively or to be reversed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solid electrode configured suitable to be used for the electrolysis of water in a liquid electrolyte medium, the electrode being formed by a formulation method comprising the following steps: a) dissolving, in a volatile solvent or a mixture of volatile solvents, at least one ion-conducting polymer binder that allows, in the solid state, the diffusion of the gases formed during electrolysis; b) adding, to the solution obtained in step a), at least one electrocatalytic material in the form of divided powder, in order to obtain a mixture; and c) depositing the mixture obtained in step b) on a metallic or metallic-type conductive support or collector, said support or said collector being openwork and chemically stable in an aqueous medium, steps a) and b) being implemented simultaneously, successively or to be reversed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a step of removing the solvent at the same time as or after step c). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is suitable to be used for the electrolysis of water in an alkaline liquid electrolyte medium and in that the polymer binder is an anion conductor in an alkaline liquid electrolyte medium, in particular conductive as regards hydroxides. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is suitable to be used for the electrolysis of water in an acid liquid electrolyte medium and in that the polymer binder is a cation conductor in an acid liquid electrolyte medium, in particular conductive as regards protons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrocatalytic material is chosen from the group comprising Ni, Co, Pt, Ir, Mo, Cr, Fe, V, Mn, Ru, Pd, C, Ti, W, Si, Bi, P, Nb, Zr, Ta and Os, mixtures thereof, alloys thereof as well as simple or complex oxides thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio of polymer binder/divided powder is comprised between 10/90 and 90/10, advantageously comprised between 10/90 and 40/60. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the divided powder is in the form of particles with an average diameter comprised between 1 μm and 5 μm, or of particles with an average diameter comprised between 10 nm and 1 μm or of particles with an average diameter comprised between 1 and 10 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for formulating an electrode for the electrolysis of water in a liquid electrolyte medium according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) dissolving, in a volatile solvent or a mixture of volatile solvents, at least one ion-conducting polymer binder that allows, in the solid state, the diffusion of the gases formed during electrolysis; b) adding, to the solution obtained in step a), at least one electrocatalytic material in the form of divided powder, in order to obtain a mixture; and c) depositing the mixture obtained in step b) on a metallic or metallic-type conductive support, said support being openwork and chemically stable in an aqueous medium, steps a) and b) being implemented simultaneously, successively or to be reversed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of removing the solvent at the same time as or after step c). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device for the electrolysis of water in a liquid electrolyte medium to produce a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and/or to produce hydrogen alone and/or to produce oxygen alone, comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is an electrode according to claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method for producing a hydrogen/oxygen mixture or hydrogen alone, and/or for producing oxygen alone by electrolysis of water in a liquid electrolyte medium using a device for electrolysis according to claim 10.