Spherical electrode and electrolysis cell including same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spherical electrode and to a spherical electrode cell, and more particularly, to a method for forming an electrode on an ion-exchange resin or forming an electrolysis cell on an ion-exchange resin. The spherical electrode or spherical electrolysis cell of the present invention can be used for: electrolysis reactors, for example in hydrolysis for producing hydrogen and oxygen gas; for the production of oxidants by means of the electrolysis of electrolytes such as a sodium chloride solution and sodium chlorite; or fuel cells that generate electricity using oxygen and hydrogen.

1 . An electrode for an electrochemical cell, comprising an ion-exchange resin matrix and a first electrode layer coated on a surface of the ion-exchange resin matrix, characterized in that the electrode has a shape selected from the group consisting of spheres, granules, beads, grains and fibers. 
     
     
         2 . The electrode for an electrochemical cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode layer is coated on 1-100% of a total surface area of the electrode for an electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode for an electrochemical cell according to  claim 2 , which further comprises a second electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer is coated on a surface of the ion-exchange resin matrix, and the first electrode layer is coated on a surface of the second electrode layer. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode for an electrochemical cell according to  claim 3 , which further comprises a third electrode layer coated on a surface of the first electrode layer. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode for an electrochemical cell according to  claim 3 , wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of: strongly acidic crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; weakly acidic crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; iminodiacetic acid-chelated crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; strongly basic polystyrene-divinyl benzene anionic resins; weakly basic polystyrene-divinylbenzene anionic resins; strongly basic/weakly basic polystyrene-divinylbenzene anionic resins; strongly basic/weakly basic acrylic anionic resins; strongly acidic perfluorosulfonated cationic resins; strongly basic perfluroroaminated anionic resins; natural anion exchangers; natural cation exchangers; porous inorganic materials; and combinations thereof,
 the first electrode layer is selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium), as well as gold, silver, chrome, iron, lead, titanium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silicon, zinc, tin and alloys or combinations thereof,   the second electrode layer is selected from the group consisting of titanium, silver, copper, tin and alloys or combinations thereof, and   each of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer has a thickness of 0.1-5 μm.   
     
     
         6 . An electrochemical cell comprising an ion-exchange resin matrix, a first electrode layer coated on a surface of the ion-exchange resin matrix, and a second electrode layer coated on the surface of the ion-exchange resin matrix, characterized in that the electrode has a shape selected from the group consisting of spheres, granules, beads, grains and fibers, and the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer correspond to an anode and a cathode, respectively, or to a cathode and an anode, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical cell according to  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer have a combined surface area corresponding to 1-99% of the total surface area of the electrode chemical cell, and each of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is coated on 0.5-60% of the total surface area of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical cell according to  claim 7 , wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of: strongly acidic crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; weakly acidic crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; iminodiacetic acid-chelated crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene cationic resins; strongly basic polystyrene-divinylbenzene anionic resins; weakly basic polystyrene-divinylbenzene anionic resins; strongly basic/weakly basic polystyrene-divinylbenzene anionic resins; strongly basic/weakly basic acrylic anionic resins; strongly acidic perfluorosulfonated cationic resins; strongly basic perfluroroaminated anionic resins; natural anion exchangers; natural cation exchangers; porous inorganic materials; and combinations thereof,
 the first electrode layer is selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium), as well as gold, silver, chrome, iron, lead, titanium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silicon, zinc, tin and alloys or combinations thereof, and   the first electrode layer has a thickness of 0.1-5 μm.