Membranes for enhancing rates of water dissociation and water formation

US12233381B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Shane Ardo · Pasadena, US
• William White · Irvine, US
• Lawrence A. Renna · Irvine, US
• Rohit Bhide · Irvine, US
• Leanna Schulte · Irvine, US
• Gabriel S. Phun · Irvine, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2020
• Grant date: Feb 25, 2025
• Expiry date: Oct 21, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Membranes for electrochemical technologies that operate at non-extreme acidic or basic conditions are described herein. The membrane can be a bipolar membrane having an anion-exchange layer, a cation-exchange layer, and a polymer layer containing a catalyst juxtaposed between the two layers. The catalyst can improve the rate for water dissociation and water formation at low applied bias thereby decreasing the overpotential and resistance for overall ion transport, especially when unequal pH values are used between the catholyte and anolyte.