Patent · US Expired

Electrolytic cells with alkaline electrolytes containing trifluoromethylane sulfonic acid

US4397730A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1982
Grant dateAug 9, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrolytic system is provided with a gas fed cathode in contact with an electrolyte to which an additive of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMSA) is added. The system can be employed in fuel cells, industrial electrolytic cells for production of gases such as chlorine, and in metal-air batteries. Preferably the porous cathode incorporates a catalyst such as gold, platinum, palladium, silver, and spinels of Ni and Co. The supply of fluid to the anode of the fuel cell is a hydrocarbon or H.sub.2 dissolved in NaOH. Oxygen or air is supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell. In the industrial electrolytic cell, the anodic source of fluid and electrolyte is brine solution, and the cathodic electrolyte is dilute caustic. In the metal-air battery, an anodic solution of NaOH is supplied to an anode of Al, Ga, Zn, etc. The cathodic solution and configuration are the same as with the fuel cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.