Bipolar electrolyzer having silicon laminate backplate

Claim 1

In a bipolar electrolyzer having a first bipolar unit and a second bipolar unit, said second bipolar unit being spaced from and parallel to said first bipolar unit and defining a single electrolytic cell therebetween, each of said bipolar units having anode means on one surface thereof and cathode means on the opposite surface thereof whereby the cathode means of said first bipolar unit faces the anode means of the second bipolar unit, the improvement wherein at least one of said bipolar units comprises: an electroconductive, electrolyte impermeable backplate having a steel plate as one exposed surface thereof, a silicon sheet in electrical contact with said steel plate as the opposite exposed surface of said backplate, and bonding means comprising a resilient electroconductive resinous material between said steel plate and said silicon sheet; an electrocatalytic material on the exposed surface of the silicon sheet of said backplate; and electrolyte permeable, electroconductive cathode means electrically and mechanically connected to, spaced from, and parallel to said steel plate.