US4470894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nickel electrodes for water electrolyzers
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1983-08-01
•
Granted: 1984-09-11
•
Expires: 2003-08-01
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a water electrolysis process for producing hydrogen in which a nickel anode is prepared by an electrolytic corrosion procedure. This procedure reduces the anode overpotential by about 0.2 volts at commercially used current densities which leads to greater process efficiency and significant reduction in electrical energy consumption.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher K. Dyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:06
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; C25B1/04; C25B11/00; C25B11/04; C25B11/042; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An electrochemical process comprising the step of passing current through anode, aqueous electrochemical solution and cathode in which water is oxidized at the anode to form oxygen, the anode is made from an anode structure by an electrolytic procedure and the anode structure comprises nickel characterized in that the electrolytic procedure comprises the step of exposing the anode structure to alternate anodic and cathodic potentials in an electrolytic solution, said electrolytic solution having conductivity greater than 0.001 mho-cm and said electrolytic solution comprising ions that enhance the dissolution of metallic nickel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrochemical process comprising the step of passing current through anode, aqueous electrochemical solution and cathode in which water is oxidized at the anode to form oxygen, the anode is made from an anode structure by an electrolytic procedure and the anode structure comprises nickel characterized in that the electrolytic procedure comprises the step of exposing the anode structure to alternate anodic and cathodic potentials in an electrolytic solution, said electrolytic solution having conductivity greater than 0.001 mho-cm and said electrolytic solution comprising ions that enhance the dissolution of metallic nickel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 in which the electrolytic solution has a pH between 3 and 10.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 in which the electrolytic solution comprises halide ion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 3 in which the halide ion is a chloride ion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 4 in which the concentration of chloride ion is between 0.01 molar and saturation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 5 in which the concentration of chloride ion is between 0.1 and 2 molar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 6 in which the chloride ion is in the form of dissolved KCl and the concentration of chloride ion is between 0.2 and 1.2 molar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 in which the electrolytic solution comprises cobalt ions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 in which the electrochemical process is the electrolysis of water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which the conductivity of the aqueous electrochemical solution is greater than 100 mho-cm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 10 in which the electrochemical solution has pH greater than 7.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 11 in which the electrochemical solution comprises potassium hydroxide with concentration of approximately 30 weight percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 in which the anode structure comprises, in addition to nickel, cobalt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 in which the anode structure consists essentially of nickel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrochemical process comprising the step of passing current through anode, aqueous electrochemical solution and cathode in which water is reduced at the cathode to form hydrogen, the cathode is made from a cathode structure by an electrolytic porcedure and the cathode structure comprises nickel characterized in that the electrolytic procedure comprises the step of exposing the cathode structure to alternate anodic and cathodic potentials in an electrolytic solution, said electrolytic solution having conductivity greater than 0.001 mho-cm and said electrolytic solution comprising ions that enhance the dissolution of metallic nickel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrochemical process comprising the step of passing current through anode, aqueous electrochemical solution and cathode in which water is reduced at the cathode to form hydrogen, the cathode is made from a cathode structure by an electrolytic porcedure and the cathode structure comprises nickel characterized in that the electrolytic procedure comprises the step of exposing the cathode structure to alternate anodic and cathodic potentials in an electrolytic solution, said electrolytic solution having conductivity greater than 0.001 mho-cm and said electrolytic solution comprising ions that enhance the dissolution of metallic nickel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 15 in which the anode is made in accordance with the electrolytic procedure of claim 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 16 in which the electrochemical process is the electrolysis of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-11 | 1988-03-12 | 1988-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-11 | 1992-03-12 | 1992-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-11 | 1996-03-12 | 1996-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |