GB2190399A - Multi-metal electrode - Google Patents

Multi-metal electrode Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2190399A
GB2190399A GB08610868A GB8610868A GB2190399A GB 2190399 A GB2190399 A GB 2190399A GB 08610868 A GB08610868 A GB 08610868A GB 8610868 A GB8610868 A GB 8610868A GB 2190399 A GB2190399 A GB 2190399A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
metals
electrode
sputtering
sputtered
targets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08610868A
Other versions
GB8610868D0 (en
Inventor
Imanuel Bergman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
National Research Development Corp UK
Original Assignee
National Research Development Corp UK
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Research Development Corp UK filed Critical National Research Development Corp UK
Priority to GB08610868A priority Critical patent/GB2190399A/en
Publication of GB8610868D0 publication Critical patent/GB8610868D0/en
Publication of GB2190399A publication Critical patent/GB2190399A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00Electrodes
    • H01M4/86Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8825Methods for deposition of the catalytic active composition
    • H01M4/8867Vapour deposition
    • H01M4/8871Sputtering
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N27/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
    • G01N27/26Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
    • G01N27/28Electrolytic cell components
    • G01N27/30Electrodes, e.g. test electrodes; Half-cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inert Electrodes (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)

Abstract

An electrode consists of two or more metals sputtered onto an electrode carrier so as to provide a variety of surface sites for different steps in the electrocatalytic process. Binary or more-component alloys of metal can be sputtered from a sputtering target comprising an alloy of, or a mixture of powders of, the metals. Alternatively targets of two or more metals can be moved into sputtering position in turn thereby producing successive layers of different metals. The metals may be sputtered onto porous or non-porous members of materials such as PTFE to make fuel-cell electrodes or metallised-membrane sensor electrodes.

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi-metal electrode This invention relates to an electrode comprising two or more metals and to a method of making it.
Electrodes are solid electronic conductors, and in use are in contact with liquid ionic conductors, termed electrolytes. At the interface between electrodes and electrolytes, electron transfer processes take place. Whether these processes are needed for sensing the presence and concentration of a material (as in a sensor), or for power generation (as in a battery or fuel cell), it is likely that the electrocatalytic properties of the electrode will play an important part in the processes.
An electrode of high electrocatalytic activity is likely to have on its surface a variety of sites.
A "site" is a portion of the surface of which one of various possible processes occurs. For instance there will be sites that are suitable for the adsorption of one or other component of the electrocatalytic process. There are likely to be other sites which components, or complexes or activated complexes of the components, need to diffuse for reaction with each other or with the surface or for electron transfer. One example is the oxidation of carbon monoxide on the surface of a platinum electrode in dilute sulphuric acid. It is likely that for high electrocatalytic activity the electrode needs to have sites of non-oxidised platinum for the adsorption of the carbon monoxide.It is also likely that the carbon monoxide needs to diffuse to a portion of the surface on which there are particular types of oxidised platinum species, by which the carbon monoxide can be oxidised. The oxidised species may then need to diffuse to yet a third type of site in order to leave the surface to make room for further adsorption or reaction.
One way in which catalysts are endowed with a heterogeneiety of sites is by making them of a combination of several components. Thus, for instance, binary alloys of platinum-group metals are known for fuel-cell electrodes. By "metal" we also include any electronic conductor.
According to the invention a method of making an electrode comprises sputtering two or more metals onto an electrode carrier.
Binary or more-component alloys of metals could be sputtered onto porous or non-porous membranes of materials such as PTFE to make fuel-cell electrodes or metallised-membrane sensor electrodes. This could be achieved by having sputtering targets made from the appropriate alloys. It could also be achieved by upwards sputtering of a mixture of powders of the appropriate metals. Thus, in the invention, preferably the sputtering target is of an alloy of, or a mixture of powders of, the said two or more metals.
However, if an apparatus is available in which the targets of two or more metals can be moved into sputtering position in turn, then an electrode can be constructed, in which successive layers consist of different metals. The relative thicknesses and order of the different layers can easily be varied. This allows the heterogeneiety of the catalytic surface to be varied even more than in simple homogeneous alloys. Thus, preferably there is a plurality of sputtering targets, each of one only, or some, of the said or of the same metals in different proportions, and optionally the various targets are sputtered sequentially.
It a sputtering substrate is kept cool, for instance with cooling water, as in the fabrication of metallised-membrane electrodes, then the resulting sputtered layer is more porous. The hotter the layer is allowed to be during the sputtering process and afterwards, the less porous it will be, and the more intercalated the different layers will be. In any case, it is likely that some sintering and interdiffusion of the metals constituting the layered electrode will take place even at ambient temperatures. It is however preferred for such interdiffusion to stop short of total homogeneity, and the preferred electrode has differentiated layers of metals (including alloys) rather than being of one uniform alloy.

Claims (6)

1. A method of making an electrode comprising sputtering two or more metals onto an electrode carrier.
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the sputtering target is of an alloy of, or a mixture of powders of, the said two or more metals.
3. A method according to Claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of sputtering targets, each of one only, or some, of the said metals, or of the same metals in different proportions.
4. A method according to Claim 3, wherein the various targets are sputtered sequentially.
5. An electrode made by a method according to any preceding claim.
6. An electrode according to Claim 5, comprising differentiated layers of metals.
GB08610868A 1986-05-02 1986-05-02 Multi-metal electrode Withdrawn GB2190399A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08610868A GB2190399A (en) 1986-05-02 1986-05-02 Multi-metal electrode

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08610868A GB2190399A (en) 1986-05-02 1986-05-02 Multi-metal electrode

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8610868D0 GB8610868D0 (en) 1986-06-11
GB2190399A true GB2190399A (en) 1987-11-18

Family

ID=10597302

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08610868A Withdrawn GB2190399A (en) 1986-05-02 1986-05-02 Multi-metal electrode

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2190399A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0366566A2 (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-05-02 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
EP0393188A1 (en) * 1987-11-24 1990-10-24 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode
US5213675A (en) * 1988-10-27 1993-05-25 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
GB2287720A (en) * 1994-03-21 1995-09-27 British Tech Group Porous metal composite body
WO1997038301A1 (en) * 1996-04-11 1997-10-16 Hydro-Quebec Method for manufacturing an array of microelectrodes
US5795669A (en) * 1995-04-05 1998-08-18 Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company Electrode

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB877901A (en) * 1957-07-17 1961-09-20 Ici Ltd Improvements relating to electrodes and uses thereof
GB944715A (en) * 1958-12-31 1963-12-18 Engelhard Ind Inc Improvements in or relating to cathodic protection systems
GB959498A (en) * 1961-01-13 1964-06-03 Ici Australia Ltd Electrochemical cells and manufacture of electrodes therefor
GB992350A (en) * 1961-01-13 1965-05-19 Ici Australia Ltd Electrochemical cells and manufacture of electrodes therefor
GB1181220A (en) * 1966-02-16 1970-02-11 Atlantic Richfield Co Fuel Cell
GB1290502A (en) * 1968-10-14 1972-09-27
US4116804A (en) * 1976-11-17 1978-09-26 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Catalytically active porous nickel electrodes
GB1532801A (en) * 1974-11-07 1978-11-22 Gen Electric Metallic coatings
GB1545305A (en) * 1975-05-27 1979-05-10 United Technologies Corp Method of forming aluminide coatings on nickel-,cobalt-,and iron-base alloys
GB2058842A (en) * 1979-07-02 1981-04-15 Olin Corp Low overvoltage electrode

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB877901A (en) * 1957-07-17 1961-09-20 Ici Ltd Improvements relating to electrodes and uses thereof
GB944715A (en) * 1958-12-31 1963-12-18 Engelhard Ind Inc Improvements in or relating to cathodic protection systems
GB959498A (en) * 1961-01-13 1964-06-03 Ici Australia Ltd Electrochemical cells and manufacture of electrodes therefor
GB992350A (en) * 1961-01-13 1965-05-19 Ici Australia Ltd Electrochemical cells and manufacture of electrodes therefor
GB1181220A (en) * 1966-02-16 1970-02-11 Atlantic Richfield Co Fuel Cell
GB1290502A (en) * 1968-10-14 1972-09-27
GB1532801A (en) * 1974-11-07 1978-11-22 Gen Electric Metallic coatings
GB1545305A (en) * 1975-05-27 1979-05-10 United Technologies Corp Method of forming aluminide coatings on nickel-,cobalt-,and iron-base alloys
US4116804A (en) * 1976-11-17 1978-09-26 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Catalytically active porous nickel electrodes
GB2058842A (en) * 1979-07-02 1981-04-15 Olin Corp Low overvoltage electrode

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0393188A1 (en) * 1987-11-24 1990-10-24 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode
EP0393188A4 (en) * 1987-11-24 1991-01-02 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode
US5200053A (en) * 1987-11-24 1993-04-06 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode
EP0366566A2 (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-05-02 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
EP0366566A3 (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-09-19 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
US5066383A (en) * 1988-10-27 1991-11-19 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
US5213675A (en) * 1988-10-27 1993-05-25 Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha Reference electrode, ion sensor and method of manufacturing the same
GB2287720A (en) * 1994-03-21 1995-09-27 British Tech Group Porous metal composite body
GB2287720B (en) * 1994-03-21 1997-11-05 British Tech Group Porous metal composite body
US5795669A (en) * 1995-04-05 1998-08-18 Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company Electrode
WO1997038301A1 (en) * 1996-04-11 1997-10-16 Hydro-Quebec Method for manufacturing an array of microelectrodes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8610868D0 (en) 1986-06-11

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)