Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A process for catalyzing a inert, porous conducting particle, hydrophobic bonded, substrate supported electrochemical cell electrode which comprises contacting the inert, porous conducting particle, hydrophobic-bonded portion of said electrode with the electrolyte composition applying a non-alternating electrical potential across the electrode between the substrate and the electrolyte, the electrical potential being of sufficient magnitude to increase the rate at which the electrolyte enters and fills the porous conducting particles, then causing a soluble catalyst-containing compound to enter into solution in the electrolyte within the electrode structure and depositing insoluble catalyst from said electrolyte solution onto the conducting particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A process for catalyzing a inert, porous conducting particle, hydrophobic bonded, substrate supported electrochemical cell electrode which comprises contacting the inert, porous conducting particle, hydrophobic-bonded portion of said electrode with the electrolyte composition applying a non-alternating electrical potential across the electrode between the substrate and the electrolyte, the electrical potential being of sufficient magnitude to increase the rate at which the electrolyte enters and fills the porous conducting particles, then causing a soluble catalyst-containing compound to enter into solution in the electrolyte within the electrode structure and depositing insoluble catalyst from said electrolyte solution onto the conducting particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said conducting particles are relatively unwettable by said electrolyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said conducting particles are graphite and said electrolyte is phosphoic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said catalyst-containing compound is chloroplatinic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said insoluble catalyst is deposited by reduction with hot hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said soluble catalyst-containing material is introduced into said electrode structure by diffusion into the electrolyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrode structure produced according to the process of claim 6.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said soluble catalyst-containing material is introduced into said electrode structure by: a. dissolving said soluble catalyst-containing material in a liquid solution of dissimilar liquids which liquid solution is: i. capable of wetting the hydrophobic bonding material of the electrode at a first composition range of said liquids, ii. incapable of wetting the hydrophobic bonding material at a second composition range of said liquids, and iii. capable of changing from said first composition range to said second composition range on evaporation of said solution; b. contacting said electrode structure with said soluble catalyst-containing material dissolved in the liquid solution in said first composition range, whereby said solution enters the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of said electrode structure, and c. evaporating said solution to change its composition from said first composition range to said second composition range whereby said solution withdraws from the hydrophobic bonding material of said electrode structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrode structure produced according to the process of claim 8.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said dissimilar liquids are water and an alcohol, said hydrophobic bonding material is PTFE and said porous conducting particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said electrolyte is phosphoric acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
An electrode structure produced according to claim 10.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
8 words
An electrode structure produced according to claim 11.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of blocking the pores of the conducting particles prior to the introduction of the soluble catalyst containing compound whereby catalyst deposition within the pores of the conducting particles is avoided.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the pores are blocked by freezing the electrolyte in the electrode structure.