Compositions, Electrodes, Methods, and Systems for Water Electrolysis and Other Electrochemical Techniques

Abstract

Compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods for water electrolysis and other electrochemical techniques are provided. In some cases, the compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods are for electrolysis which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen, hydrogen, and/or oxygen and/or hydrogen containing species. In some embodiments, the water for electrolysis comprises at least one impurity and/or at least one additive which has little or no substantially affect on the performance of the electrode.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A catalytic material, comprising:
 a first metal type, selected to be capable of forming hydrogen gas, and the first metal type comprising Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Mo, W, Rh, Ru, Os, Ir, Pt, Pd, or any combination thereof;   a second metal type, selected to have an association constant of less than 10 3  M −1  with an anionic species other than oxide or hydroxide, the second metal type comprising Zn, Cd, Sn, In, Pb, Sb, Te, Bi, Hg, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, Cr, or any combination thereof,   the first and second metals differing from one another; and   a third metal type, selected so as to increase the surface area of the catalytic material, the third metal type comprising V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Ca, Mg, Si, Zn, Al, Ag, Se or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The catalytic material of  claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor. 
     
     
         3 . The catalytic material of  claim 1 , wherein the third metal type is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material. 
     
     
         4 . The catalytic material of  claim 3 , wherein the third metal is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material under set conditions at least about two times the rate of any de-alloying of the first metal type and the second metal type under the conditions, so as to increase the surface area of the electrode exposable to the electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The catalytic material of  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic material comprises an alloy that includes two or more of the first, second, and third metals. 
     
     
         6 . A catalytic material comprising:
 a first metal type, selected to be capable of oxidizing hydrogen gas, and the first metal type comprising Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Mo, W, Rh, Ru, Os, Ir, Pt, Pd, or any combination thereof;   a second metal type, selected to have an association constant of less than 10 3  M −1  with an anionic species other than oxide or hydroxide, the second metal type comprising Zn, Cd, Sn, In, Pb, Sb, Te, Bi, Hg, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, Cr, or any combination thereof,   the first and second metals differing from one another; and   a third metal type, selected so as to increase the surface area of the catalytic material, the third metal type comprising V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Ca, Mg, Si, Zn, Al, Ag, Se or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The catalytic material of  claim 6 , further comprising a semiconductor. 
     
     
         8 . The catalytic material of  claim 6 , wherein the third metal type is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material. 
     
     
         9 . The catalytic material of  claim 6 , wherein the third metal is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material under set conditions at least about two times the rate of any de-alloying of the first metal type and the second metal type under the conditions, so as to increase the surface area of the electrode exposable to the electrolyte. 
     
     
         10 . The catalytic material of  claim 5 , wherein the catalytic material comprises an alloy that includes two or more of the first, second, or third metals. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 forming hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, or both by contacting to water a catalytic material that comprises:   (a) a first metal type comprising Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Mo, W, Rh, Ru, Os, Ir, Pt, Pd, or any combination thereof;   (b) a second metal type, selected to have an association constant of less than 10 3  M −1  with an anionic species other than oxide or hydroxide, the second metal type comprising Zn, Cd, Sn, In, Pb, Sb, Te, Bi, Hg, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, Cr, or any combination thereof,   the first and second metals differing from one another; and   (c) a third metal type, selected so as to increase the surface area of the catalytic material, the third metal type comprising V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Ca, Mg, Si, Zn, Al, Ag, Se or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the catalytic material further comprises a semiconductor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the third metal type is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the third metal is selected to de-alloy from the catalytic material under set conditions at least about two times the rate of any de-alloying of the first metal type and the second metal type under the conditions, so as to increase the surface area of the electrode exposable to the electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the catalytic material comprises an alloy that includes two or more of the first, second, or third metals.