Electrolytic cell with improved hydrogen evolution cathode

Patent · Tue Feb 07 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:7035955

Gray, T J

An electrolytic cell having an improved hydrogen evolution cathode said cathode being characterized by a conductive metal core and an integral Raney-type catalytic surface predominantly derived from an adherent ternary aluminide Beta structured intermetallic crystalline precursory outer portion of the metal core is disclosed. The precursory outer portion preferably has molybdenum and titanium added to give a precursor alloy having the formula Ni /SUB x/ Mo /SUB y/ Ti /SUB z/ Al/sub 3/ where x is within the range of from about 75 to about 94 weight percent, y is within the range of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent and z is within the range of from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of the Ni-Mo-Ti portion of the alloy. Also disclosed is a method of producing a low overvoltage cathode. The method includes the steps of taking a Ni-Mo-Ti core or substrate having about 5-20 weight percentage of Mo and about 1-5 weight percent Ti and coating it with aluminum, heat treating to form a Ni-Mo-Ti-Al quaternary alloy with mostly NiAl/sub 3/ (ordered orthorhombic) crystal structure and then leaching out the Al to produce a ternary NiMoTi alloy Raney surface. A method for utilizing said low overvoltage cathode for producing hydrogen and an exemplary cell having a permselective membrane therein for so doing are also disclosed.

• Assignee: Olin Corporation
• Patent Number(s): US 4430186
• OSTI ID: 7035955
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080101* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CATHODES
COATINGS
DESIGN
DISSOLUTION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
LEACHING
LYSIS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TITANIUM ALLOYS