Novel electrodes and methods of preparing and using same

Abstract

An electrode comprising a gas permeable and liquid permeable coating bonded to an ion exchange membrane, said coating comprising low overvoltage electrocatalytic particles, more electroconductive electrolyte resistant particles and an electrolyte resistant binder compatible with the membrane to bond the particles thereto, the electrode coating being provided with a plurality of pores with a pore size of at least 0.1 microns. Effective porosity is imparted to the layer of particles by means of a sacrificial, pore-forming agent and by leaching out such agent after the particles have been bonded together and the layer formed is in its desired thickness, preferably after it has been deposited upon the membrane. Surface resistivity of the layer is reduced and the layer is effectively reinforced by incorporating electroconductive particles which often have a higher overvoltage than the electrocatalytic particles and also have high electroconductivity. Silver and materials having approximately the equivalent electroconductivity of silver are incorporated for this purpose.