Method for using anodes having NICO/sub 2/O/sub 4/ catalyst for the electrolysis of potassium hydroxide solutions and method of making an anode containing NICO/sub 2/O/sub 4/ catalyst

Patent · Tue Apr 29 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5778419

Martin, R E; Plasse, P A

A method is described of electrolyzing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen in an electrochemical system in cells that contain aqueous potassium hydroxide electrolyte, an anode and a cathode. The method consists of: (a) maintaining aqueous electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the anode; (b) maintaining a supply of water at the cathode; (c) maintaining a supply of hydroxyl ions at the anode; and (d) passing a direct electric current through the system causing reduction of the water to hydrogen at the cathode and oxidation of the hydroxyl ion to oxygen at the anode; wherein the improvement comprises utilizing as the anode a NiCo/sub 2/O/sub 4/ catalyzed electrically conductive substrate made by soaking the substrate in a solution of nickel nitrate hexahydrate and cobalt II nitrate hexahydrate and then sintering the impregnated substrate the electrolysis requiring an anode voltage of less than about 1470 millivolts at 100 milliamperes per square centimeter of anode area.

• Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corp., South Windsor, CT
• Patent Number(s): US 4585532
• OSTI ID: 5778419
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080101* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANODES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CATALYSTS
CATHODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COBALT COMPLEXES
COMPLEXES
CURRENTS
DIRECT CURRENT
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXIDES
LYSIS
NICKEL CARBONATES
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL NITRATES
NICKEL OXIDES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
SUBSTRATES
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER