Device and method for electrochemically generating one or more gases

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for electrochemically generating one or more gases under high pressure, comprising: a container ( 1, 6 ) comprising one or more chambers ( 7, 8 ) for filling with electrolyte; a first ( 2, 10 ) and a second ( 2, 11 ) electrode over which a voltage difference can be applied in order to bring about an electrochemical generation in the container ( 1, 6 ); wherein the content of a chamber ( 7, 8 ) is in the order of magnitude of a few millilitres or less.

1 . Integrated circuit for simultaneously performing a large number of chemical or physical processes, comprising: 
 a number of devices for electrochemically generating one or more gases under high pressure;    a substrate on which the devices are arranged;    control means provided on the substrate and connected to the devices for controlling the processes performed in the respective containers;    wherein a device comprises:    a container comprising a first chamber and a second chamber for filling with electrolites, each of the chambers having a content in the order of magnitude of a few millilitres or less;    a first and a second electrode over which a voltage difference can be applied in order to bring about the electrochemical generation in the container, the first electrode being positioned in the first chamber of the container for generating therein a gas of a first type, the second electrode being positioned in the second chamber of the container for generating therein a gas of a second type, and both chambers being mutually connected by a connecting channel.    
     
     
         2 . Integrated circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the content is a maximum of 150 microlitres of electrolyte.  
     
     
         3 . Integrated circuit according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the length of the connecting channel is such that diffusion of the gases is limited.  
     
     
         4 . Integrated circuit according to any of the claims  1 - 3 , wherein each of the chambers has a content in the order of magnitude of 150 microlitres or less.  
     
     
         5 . Integrated circuit or device according to any of claims  3 - 4 , wherein an electrically conductive material is arranged in the connecting channel so as to further limit the mutual diffusion of the gasses.  
     
     
         6 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of claims  1 - 5 , wherein the control means comprise pressure-determining means for determining the pressure of the electrochemically generated gases.  
     
     
         7 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pressure-determining means comprise a piezoresistive pressure sensor.  
     
     
         8 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the control means comprise voltage-controlling means for controlling the voltage between the first and second electrodes of the devices.  
     
     
         9 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the voltage controlling means control the voltage between the first and second electrode of a device so as to achieve a pressure build-up speed in the container of said device of 8 bar per second or more, or even 20 bar or more.  
     
     
         10 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the voltage controlling means are operable so as to control substantially in real time the pressure in the container of a device.  
     
     
         11 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising heating means for heating the content of one of more of the chambers of said devices.  
     
     
         12 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the heating means comprise a metal film arranged in the container and connected to an electrical power supply.  
     
     
         13 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, provided with means for applying an electrical field over the container.  
     
     
         14 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, provided with means for applying a magnetic field in the container.  
     
     
         15 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the container is substantially optically transparent.  
     
     
         16 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising optical radiating means for irradiating the content of the container.  
     
     
         17 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, provided with means for supplying acoustic energy to the content of the container.  
     
     
         18 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising catalyst fixing means for fixing a catalyst in the container.  
     
     
         19 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising means for providing high-energy electrons in the container.  
     
     
         20 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the container is manufactured from standard technical material such as aluminium or plastic, and in particular plexiglass.  
     
     
         21 . Integrated circuit or device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the electrochemically generated gas is H 2 , O 2 , Cl 2 , F 2 , D 2 , CO 2 , I 2  and/or Br 2 .  
     
     
         22 . Method for electrochemically generating one or more gases in the integrated circuit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising of: 
 arranging electrolyte in a container of the device;    arranging a first and a second electrode in the container of said device;    applying a potential difference over the electrodes so as to bring about the electrochemical generation in the container.    
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 22 , comprising of: 
 arranging a catalyst in the container;    arranging the content of the container when a potential difference over the electrodes is applied for electrochemical generation of gas; by determining the compensation current required to substantially hold the pressure in the container constant.    
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 23 , wherein the step of analyzing comprises determining at determined pressure values the compensating current required to substantially hold the pressure in the container at this pressure value.