Carbon Electrode Devices for Use with Liquids and Associated Methods

Abstract

Electrode devices and systems for use in liquid environments, including associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, an electrode device for use in a liquid environment can include a proton exchange membrane having a first side and a second side, a first electrode including a carbon material, where the first electrode is positioned at the first side of the proton exchange membrane, and a second electrode including a carbon material, where the second electrode positioned at the second side of the proton exchange membrane opposite the first electrode. The proton exchange membrane spaces the first electrode and the second electrode at a distance of less than or equal to about 100 microns apart.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode device for use in a liquid environment, comprising:
 a proton exchange membrane having a first side and a second side;   a first electrode including a carbon material, the first electrode positioned at the first side of the proton exchange membrane;   a second electrode positioned at the second side of the proton exchange membrane opposite the first electrode, wherein the proton exchange membrane spaces the first electrode and the second electrode at a distance of less than or equal to about 100 microns apart.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the proton exchange membrane spaces the first electrode and the second electrode at a distance of less than or equal to about 50 microns apart. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a member selected from the group consisting of a porous layer of DLC, a DLC-coated carbon cloth, a B-doped SiC powder, a porous layer of B-doped SiC, a B-doped SiC-coated carbon cloth, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a DLC-coated carbon cloth, wherein the DLC is doped with N. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a porous layer of conductive DLC material with an sp3 bonded carbon content from about 20 atom % to about 80 atom % and an sp2 bonded carbon content from about 20 atom % to about 80 atom %. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode includes a carbon material selected from the group consisting of a porous layer of DLC, a DLC-coated carbon cloth, a B-doped SiC powder, a porous layer of B-doped SiC, a B-doped SiC-coated carbon cloth, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is a DLC-coated carbon cloth, wherein the DLC is doped with N. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode includes a porous layer of conductive DLC material with an sp3 bonded carbon content from about 20 atom % to about 80 atom % and an sp2 bonded carbon content from about 20 atom % to about 80 atom %. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode includes a B-doped SiC powder. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode directly contact the proton exchange membrane. 
     
     
         11 . A system for ionizing a liquid, comprising:
 a liquid containment vessel having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber being continuous;   a proton exchange membrane having a first side facing the first chamber and a second side facing the second chamber, the proton exchange membrane positioned within the liquid containment vessel to separate the first chamber and the second chamber;   a first electrode including a carbon material, the first electrode positioned at the first side of the proton exchange membrane;   a second electrode, the second electrode positioned at the second side of the proton exchange membrane opposite the first electrode, wherein the proton exchange membrane spaces the first electrode and the second electrode at a distance of less than or equal to about 100 microns apart;   a first liquid input coupled to the liquid containment vessel and operable to deliver a liquid into the first chamber;   a first liquid output coupled to the liquid containment vessel and operable to remove liquid from the first chamber;   a second liquid input coupled to the liquid containment vessel and operable to deliver a liquid into the second chamber; and   a second liquid output coupled to the liquid containment vessel and operable to remove liquid from the second chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an electrical power source electrically coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wherein the proton exchange membrane spaces the first electrode and the second electrode at a distance of less than or equal to about 50 microns apart. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first electrode includes a member selected from the group consisting of a porous layer of DLC, a DLC-coated carbon cloth, a B-doped SiC powder, a porous layer of B-doped SiC, a B-doped SiC-coated carbon cloth, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second electrode includes a member selected from the group consisting of a porous layer of DLC, a DLC-coated carbon cloth, a B-doped SiC powder, a porous layer of B-doped SiC, a B-doped SiC-coated carbon cloth, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method for ionizing a liquid using the system of  claim 12 , comprising:
 activating the power source to drive a current from the second electrode to the first electrode thus charging the first electrode as an anode and the second electrode as a cathode;   delivering a working liquid through the first liquid input into the first chamber;   delivering a carrier liquid through the second liquid input into the second chamber;   ionizing the working liquid to generate protons therefrom such that the generated protons migrate across the proton exchange membrane toward the cathode and into the carrier liquid in the second chamber; and   removing the carrier liquid from the second liquid output.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the working liquid is water and ionizing the water generates ozone at the anode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ozone is removed from the first chamber with the water by the first liquid output.