Electrolysis Electrocatalyst

Abstract

Electrolysis electrocatalysts and their use in an electrolysis process, for example, in the electrolysis of water, more particularly for producing hydrogen at the cathode of a water electrolyser or producing oxygen at the anode of a water electrolyser, as well as a water electrolyser including such an electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst includes a combination of palladium and iridium.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for catalysing an electrolysis process comprising providing an electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the electrolysis process is selected from the group consisting of an electrosynthesis process, the electrolysis of an aqueous sodium chloride solution. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the electrocatalyst comprises palladium and iridium in an atomic ratio of about 9:1, about 5:1, about 3:1 or about 1:1. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the electrocatalyst is part of a cathode and/or an anode in an electrolysis system, wherein the electrolysis system comprises a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte or electrolytes. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the electrolysis system is selected from the group consisting of a water electrolyser and an aqueous sodium chloride electrolysis system. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the electrode is a cathode and wherein the electrocatalyst process is the production of hydrogen at the cathode. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the electrode is an anode and wherein the electrocatalyst is used to catalyse the production of oxygen, chlorine, or sodium hydroxide at the anode. 
     
     
         46 . An electrolysis system comprising an electrocatalyst, wherein the electrocatalyst comprises palladium and iridium. 
     
     
         47 . The electrolysis system of  claim 46 , comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte or electrolytes, wherein the cathode, the anode or both the cathode and the anode comprise an electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium. 
     
     
         48 . The electrolysis system of  claim 47 , wherein the electrolysis system is a water electrolyser or an aqueous sodium chloride solution electrolysis system. 
     
     
         49 . The electrolysis system of  claim 47 , wherein the electrolyte is a cation conducting polymer membrane. 
     
     
         50 . A method for electrolysing water to produce hydrogen and/or oxygen comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a water electrolyser comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte or electrolytes, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode comprises an electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium;   (ii) contacting the water electrolyser with water; and   (iii) generating hydrogen and/or oxygen.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the hydrogen and oxygen are generated by creating an electrical bias between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         52 . A method for electrolysing an aqueous sodium chloride solution to produce hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or sodium hydroxide comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing an electrolysis system comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte or electrolytes, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode comprises an electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium;   (ii) contacting the cathode and the anode of the electrolysis system with the electrolyte or electrolytes wherein one of the electrolytes is an aqueous sodium chloride solution; and   (iii) generating hydrogen and/or chlorine and/or sodium hydroxide.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the hydrogen and chlorine are generated by creating an electrical bias between the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         54 . A process for preparing an electrolysis system as defined in claim  9  comprising assembling a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte or electrolytes, wherein the cathode, the anode or both the cathode and the anode comprise an electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium. 
     
     
         55 . An electrolyser electrocatalyst comprising palladium and iridium. 
     
     
         56 . The electrolyser electrocatalyst of  claim 55 , as a cathode. 
     
     
         57 . The electrolyser electrocatalyst of  claim 55 , as an anode.