Process for producing electrode with current outlets

Claim 1

A process for producing an electrode comprising, on the one hand, at least one body formed at least in part of an electron-conductive porous skeleton with two main faces and, on the other hand, at least one current outlet, characterized by: (a) making the current outlet with at least one electron-conductive plate having roughnesses, said roughnesses having, for each plate, main faces arranged substantially in a plane, the ratio R a =(S f /S) being at least equal to 25% and at most equal to 70%, S f representing the sum of the areas of these main faces for all the roughnesses of the outlet, and S representing the area of the cross-section of the skeleton in the vicinity of the roughnesses of said outlet, the cross-section being taken along a plane parallel to the plane or planes of said main faces of the roughnesses, S f including the areas of any openings in the main faces of each plate; (b) causing the roughnesses to penetrate into the skeleton; (c) clamping the skeleton by pressure where it is in contact with the plate to result in a decrease Δe of the original thickness "e" of the skeleton, the ratio R S =(Δd/e) being at least equal to 5% and at most equal to 50%; (d) electrolytically depositing a metal in the skeleton and firmly connecting the plate to the skeleton by means of the electrolytic metallic deposit which adheres both to the skeleton and to the plate, said deposit being inert under the conditions of use of the electrode.