Electrolytic atomic hydrogen decrepitation of rare-earth-containing materials

Abstract

Provided herein is an apparatus for electrolytic atomic hydrogen decrepitation and methods of use thereof.

1 . An electrolysis apparatus for atomic hydrogen decrepitation of at least one rare-earth-containing material, the apparatus comprising:
 a cathode wherein said at least one rare-earth-containing material is the cathode;   an anode;   an electrolyte; and   wherein said electrolysis apparatus is configured to carry out an electrolytic reaction to decrepitate said at least one rare-earth-containing material.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one rare-earth-containing material comprises any of the following elements selected from: cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and yttrium (Y). 
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one rare-earth containing material comprises a ferromagnetic alloy or rare-earth magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis apparatus of any one of  claim 1  wherein said rare-earth material is selected from a list comprising: Nd 2 Fe 14 B, SmCO 5 , Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr) 7 , Sr-ferrite, iron bar-magnets or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis apparatus of any one of  claim 1  wherein said cathode further comprises copper, nickel, steel, titanium, rare-earth containing material or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional cathode. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrolyte is a KOH or NaOH aqueous solution. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cathode further comprises at least one grid adapted to allow decrepitated fragments to pass through it. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said at least one grid has holes with a size ranging from 1 to 100 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolysis apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said at least one grid is comprised of copper, nickel, steel, titanium, ferromagnetic alloy or any combination thereof 
     
     
         11 . A method for electrolytic atomic hydrogen decrepitation of at least one rare-earth-containing material, the method comprising:
 providing the electrolysis apparatus of  claim 1 , configured to carry out an electrolytic reaction in an electrolyte; and   carrying out said electrolytic reaction by providing an applied potential between said anode and said cathode, producing atomic hydrogen at said cathode.   
     
     
         12 . A method for electrolytic atomic hydrogen decrepitation of at least one rare-earth-containing material, the method comprising:
 providing an electrolysis apparatus comprising an anode, cathode and electrolyte, configured to carry out an electrolytic reaction to decrepitate said at least one rare-earth-containing material;   disposing said at least one rare-earth-containing material onto said cathode; and   carrying out said electrolytic reaction by providing an applied potential between said anode and said cathode, producing atomic hydrogen at said cathode.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said cathode comprises copper, nickel, steel, titanium, rare-earth containing material or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said applied potential is between 4 to 10V. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein atomic hydrogen is released from said cathode by a reduction reaction of 2 H + (aq)+2e − →2H(g). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the H+ is a result of electrolysis of the water (H 2 O) within the cell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said electrolyte comprises KOH or NaOH aqueous solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said cathode further comprises at least one grid adapted to allow decrepitated fragments through it. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said at least one grid is comprised of copper, nickel, steel, titanium, ferromagnetic alloy or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said applied potential is between 4 to 10V.