US4921586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrolysis cell and method of use
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1989-03-31
•
Granted: 1990-05-01
•
Expires: 2009-03-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses an improved solid polymer electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide. The improvement being the use of a cathode having a metal phthalocyanine catalyst which results in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen during the reduction process and the subsequent improved conversion efficiency for carbon dioxide.
Inventors
- 👤 Trent M. Molter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:44
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B3/00; C25B3/20; C25B3/25; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23; C25B3/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
An improved electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide having an anode, a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte, the improvement comprising a primary carbon dioxide reducing cathode containing a catalytic material having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum and a secondary carbon dioxide reducing cathode having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum thereby resulting in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen gas and improved efficiency for the reduction of carbon dioxide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
An improved electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide having an anode, a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte, the improvement comprising a primary carbon dioxide reducing cathode containing a catalytic material having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum and a secondary carbon dioxide reducing cathode having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum thereby resulting in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen gas and improved efficiency for the reduction of carbon dioxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein the secondary catalyst is in the form of one or more screens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cell of claim 2 wherein the screens comprise stainless steel, copper, brass, niobium, zirconium, or titanium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cell of claim 3 wherein the secondary catalyst comprises a screen comprising a carbon dioxide reducing material having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum wherein said screen is substantially coated with a carbon dioxide reducing catalyst having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 4 wherein the coating catalyst is a metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The cell of claim 4 wherein the coating is indium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 4 wherein the coating catalyst is a metal porphyrin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 4 wherein the coating is a metal phthalocyanine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cell of claim 8 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, nickel and cobalt phthalocyanine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 8 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is nickel phthalocyanine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 1 wherein the primary cathode comprises a metal phthalocyanine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 11 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is nickel phthalocyanine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 6 wherein the primary cathode comprises a metal phthalocyanine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 13 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is nickel phthalocyanine.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrolysis cell having an anode a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising; contacting the anode with a hydrogen containing material, converting said hydrogen containing material to hydrogen ions, transporting said hydrogen ions through the solid polymer electrolyte to the cathode; contacting the cathode with carbon dioxide; thereby causing the carbon dioxide to react with the hydrogen ions to form organic compounds wherein the improvement comprises a cathode having a primary and secondary cathode wherein said primary cathode comprises a metal phthalocyanine and said secondary cathode comprises materials capable of reducing carbon dioxide and also having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrolysis cell having an anode a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising; contacting the anode with a hydrogen containing material, converting said hydrogen containing material to hydrogen ions, transporting said hydrogen ions through the solid polymer electrolyte to the cathode; contacting the cathode with carbon dioxide; thereby causing the carbon dioxide to react with the hydrogen ions to form organic compounds wherein the improvement comprises a cathode having a primary and secondary cathode wherein said primary cathode comprises a metal phthalocyanine and said secondary cathode comprises materials capable of reducing carbon dioxide and also having a hydrogen overvoltage greater than platinum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper and cobalt phthalocyanine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the secondary catalyst is in the form of one or more screens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the secondary catalyst is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, gallium, silver, gold, indium, iron, tungsten, molybdenum and carbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the screen is substantially coated with a metal porphyrin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the screen is coated with a metal phthalocyanine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper and cobalt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the metal phthalocyanine is nickel phthalocyanine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the coating comprises indium, tin, lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, gallium, silver, gold, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, or carbon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the carbon dioxide material is at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the carbon dioxide material is at a pressure greater than 500 psi.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the carbon dioxide material is at a pressure of between 200 and 1000 psi.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the pressure of the carbon dioxide material in contact with the cathode is about 600 psi to about 900 psi.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-30 | 1993-10-30 | 1994-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-30 | 1997-10-30 | 1998-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-30 | 2001-10-30 | 2002-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |