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Apparatus and method for the electrolysis of water

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1178269
An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and/or oxygen, the apparatus comprising: (i) at least one lithographically-patternable substrate having a surface; (ii) a plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes embedded in said surface; (iii) at least one counter electrode in proximity to but not on said surface; (iv) means for collecting evolved hydrogen and/or oxygen gas; (v) electrical powering means for applying a voltage across said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode; and (vi) a container for holding an aqueous electrolyte and housing said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode. Electrolytic processes using the above electrolytic apparatus or functional mimics thereof are also described.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Number(s):
9,011,651
Application Number:
12/963,857
OSTI ID:
1178269
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

Facile Large-Scale Fabrication of Proton Conducting Channels journal October 2008
In Situ Formation of an Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst in Neutral Water Containing Phosphate and Co2+ journal August 2008
The solubility and diffusion coefficient of oxygen in potassium hydroxide solutions journal March 1967
Mesoporous silicon-based miniature fuel cells for nomadic and chip-scale systems journal January 2006
Metabolic Prosthesis for Oxygenation of Ischemic Tissue journal February 2009
Microfluidic Devices for Energy Conversion:  Planar Integration and Performance of a Passive, Fully Immersed H 2 −O 2 Fuel Cell journal August 2004

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