Electrochemical cell without an electrolyte-impermeable barrier

Abstract

In one aspect there is provided an electrochemical cell without an electrolyte-impermeable barrier. In another aspect there is provided an electrochemical cell comprising a liquid electrolyte, a cathode and at least one cathode product able to be produced at the cathode, and an anode and at least one anode product able to be produced at the anode. The at least one anode product and the at least one cathode product are substantially separated, and the cell is without an electrolyte-impermeable barrier positioned between the cathode and the anode. There is a relatively low ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m 3 )/electrode surface area (m 2 )). The cell can be operated at a relatively low current density. Optionally, an electrolyte-permeable separator may be employed.

1 . An electrochemical cell comprising,:
 a liquid electrolyte;   a cathode, at least one cathode product able to be produced at the cathode; and   an anode, at least one anode product able to be produced at the anode;   wherein, the at least one anode product and the at least one cathode product are substantially separated, and without an electrolyte-impermeable barrier positioned between the cathode and the anode.   
     
     
         2 . The cell of  claim 1 , where the cell is an electro-synthetic or an electro-energy cell. 
     
     
         3 . The cell of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cell utilizes abiological manufactured components. 
     
     
         4 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m 3 )/electrode surface area (m 2 )) is in the range of, inclusively, from about 0.001 μm to about 0.1 m. 
     
     
         5 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m 3 )/electrode surface area (m 2 )) is less than or about 0.1 m (or 100 mm). 
     
     
         6 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m 3 )/electrode surface area (m 2 )) is selected from the group of:
 less than or about 0.01 m (or 10 mm): 
 less than or about 0.001 m (or 1 mm); 
 less than or about 0.0001 m (or 100 μm); 
 less than or about 0.00001 m (or 10 μm); 
 less than or about 0.000001 m (or 1 μm); 
 less than or about 0.0000001 m (or 0.1 μm); 
 less than or about 0.00000001 m (or 0.01 μm); and 
 less than or about 0.000000001 m (or 0.001 μm). 
 
     
     
         7 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about 1000 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about 500 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about. 250 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about 70 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about 20 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of less than or about 10 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein in operation the cell has a low current density of between, inclusively, about 2 to about 20 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein an electrolyte-permeable separator is positioned at least partially between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         15 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein an electrolyte-permeable separator is positioned on the shortest pathway for ion-conduction between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         16 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  15 , wherein the electrolyte flows past the cathode or the anode. 
     
     
         17 . The cell of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte exits the cell after flowing past the cathode or the anode. 
     
     
         18 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  16 , wherein the electrolyte circulates between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         19 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the cathode and the anode are separated within the cell, and wherein the cathode product produced at the cathode and the anode product produced at the anode are directed to different collection areas. 
     
     
         20 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  19 , wherein the cathode and the anode each extend in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         21 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  20 , wherein the cathode and the anode are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         22 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  21 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode are an array of electrodes. 
     
     
         23 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  22 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode have some degree of porosity to enable electrolyte to pass through the cathode and/or the anode. 
     
     
         24 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  23 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode are a series of ribbons of thin metallic foil. 
     
     
         25 . The cell of  claim 24 , wherein the thin metallic foil is of the order of about 0.025 mm thick. 
     
     
         26 . The cell of  claim 24 , wherein a spacing between the ribbons is in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The cell of  claim 24  or  26 , wherein the ribbons are coated with nano-particulates of a metal and a binder. 
     
     
         28 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  27 , wherein a spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than 10 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  27 , wherein a spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than 35 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  27 , wherein a spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than 90 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  30 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode are made at least partly from nickel. 
     
     
         32 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  30 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode are made at least partly from titanium. 
     
     
         33 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  30 , wherein the cathode and/or the anode are made at least partly from manganese or cobalt modes. 
     
     
         34 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  33 , wherein the cathode is located in a cathode compartment and the anode is located in an anode compartment. 
     
     
         35 . The cell of  claim 34 , wherein the cathode compartment and the anode compartment are physically separated. 
     
     
         36 . The cell of  claim 34  or  35 , wherein the cathode compartment has an associated cathode product outlet or valve. 
     
     
         37 . The cell of any one of  claims 34  to  36 , wherein the anode compartment has an associated anode product outlet or valve. 
     
     
         38 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  37 , wherein the cell is a water electrolyser and the cathode product is hydrogen gas and the anode product is oxygen gas. 
     
     
         39 . The cell of any one of  claims 1  to  37 , wherein the cell is used to manufacture hydrogen peroxide and the electrolyte flows past the cathode and sweeps hydroperoxide ions formed at the cathode so that the hydroperoxide ions exit the cell. 
     
     
         40 . An electrochemical cell, comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte, wherein the ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m 3 )/electrode surface area (m 2 )) is in the range of, inclusively, from about 0.001 μm to about 0.1 m. 
     
     
         41 . An electrochemical cell, comprising a cathode located in a cathode compartment and an anode located in a physically separated anode compartment, and at least two fluid passages allowing an electrolyte to flow between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment.