The invention relates to an electrochemical cell which has an electrode, a membrane disposed in contact with one side of the electrode and a mass flow field disposed on the other side of the electrode for directing fluid to and away from the electrode. The mass flow field comprises glassy carbon. The cell of the present invention is particularly useful in converting anhydrous hydrogen halide, in particular, hydrogen fluoride, directly to essentially dry halogen gas, such as dry fluorine gas. Alternatively, the cell may be used to convert an aqueous reactant.

Claims

23 · 1 independent · depth 7

23 granted claims

›1.independentAn electrochemical cell for the direct production of essentially anhydrous halogen gas from essentially anhydrous hydrogen halide, comprising: (a) mea…+22

›2.↳ 1The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing means is an anode, the reducing means is a cathode and the cation-transporting means is a m…d2+9

›3.↳ 2The electrochemical cell of claim 2, further comprising a cathode-side inlet for delivering a fluid to the cathode to hydrate the membrane.d3

›4.↳ 2The electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the mass flow field is an anode mass flow field disposed in contact with the anode and further comprising…d3

›5.↳ 2The electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein the anode and the cathode each comprise an electrochemically active material.d3+6

›12.↳ 1The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the mass flow field comprises a plurality of flow channels for the purpose of directing the flow of fluid…d2

›13.↳ 1The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the mass flow field comprises graphite coated with glassy carbon.d2

›14.↳ 1The electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein the wherein the cation-transporting membrane is a proton-transporting membrane.d2+9

›15.↳ 14The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein the proton-transporting membrane comprises a hydrated copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene and poly-sulf…d3

›16.↳ 14The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein the anode and the cathode are gas-diffusion electrodes, each comprising an electrochemically active mate…d3+7

›17.↳ 16The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein the electrochemically active material comprises one of the following: platinum, ruthenium, osmium, rheni…d4+6

Classifications

4 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

204/252204/282204/283204/279

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1.9 y

708 days filing → grant

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Kathryn Gorgos

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