TH37985A - New type of three-dimensional electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (07/10/41) The invention provides a working electrode for use in undivided electrochemical cells consisting of at least one type of three-dimensional, accordion-folded plate member with an open surface area ranging from zero to 50%. Typical suitable materials are metal mesh and woven fibers. The invention also comprises an undivided electrochemical cell with a novel type of working electrode. Finally, the invention comprises a method for conditioning metallic hydrocarbon currents in undivided electrochemical cells by bringing metallic hydrocarbon currents into contact with the novel type of folded electrode. The invention has wide applications for conditioning starting materials that produce electrochemically reversible (redox-reactive) intermediates. The invention provides a working electrode for use in undivided electrochemical cells consisting of at least one type of three-dimensional, accordion-folded plate member with an open surface area ranging from zero to 50%. Typical suitable materials are metal mesh and woven fibers. The invention also comprises an undivided electrochemical cell, with a novel operating electrode at the end. The invention contains a method for conditioning metal-containing hydrocarbon currents in an undivided electrochemical cell by bringing the metal-containing hydrocarbon current into contact with a novel, folded electrode. The invention has wide-ranging applications for conditioning starting materials that produce electrochemically reversible (rectox-reactive) intermediates.

Claims (11)

1. The operating electrode for use in an undivided electrochemical cell consists of at least one type of three-dimensional, accordion-folded plate member with an open surface area of between zero and 50%. 2. The electrode of claim number 1, the operating electrode of which is the cathode. 3. The electrode of claim number 1, the operating electrode of which is the anode. 4. The electrode of claim 1, whose plate member is metal. 5. The electrode of claim number 2, where the metal is zinc. 6. The electrodes of claim 1, of which the plate members are perforated. 7. The electrodes of claim 1, which select members from, solid sheets, expanded metal mesh, woven wire mesh and perforated plates. 8. An undivided electrochemical cell, consisting of: - Reversible electrodes - Current feed method - Operating electrode consisting of at least one type of three-dimensional accordion-folded plate member with an open surface area of 0 to 50%; such plate member is connected to the current feed method and placed between the reversible electrode and the current feed method - An insulator is placed around the reversible electrode, the current feed method, and the operating electrode, providing a limited electrolyte flow perpendicular to the folds in the plate member - A method for circulating the electrolyte containing the initial material to be reconditioned through the cell in a truly parallel direction to the direction of the folds in the plate member. 9. A method for conditioning electrochemically conjugated hydrocarbon currents in an undivided electrochemical cell consists of bringing the metal-conjugated hydrocarbon current into contact with the electrodes of claim 1. 10. The method of claim number 9, in which the metal is a species that is soluble in hydrocarbons. 11. The method of claim 6, which selects a metal from the group containing nickel and vanadium (Clause 11, page 1, figure 7).