The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2003
Karl Kordesch, Graz, AT;
Martin Cifrain, Graz, AT;
Karl Kordesch, Graz, AT;
Martin Cifrain, Graz, AT;
Apollo Energy Systems, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL (US);
Abstract
In a gas diffusion electrode the electrolyte must penetrate the pares of the electrode structure to a certain extent to establish the optimum interface between gas and liquid electrolyte, but it should not reach the gas-side of the electrodes. The best equilibrium of the so-called three phase zone (porous current collector-reaction gas-liquid electrolyte) is achieved by adequate wetproofing the porous structure with a polymeric substance as repellency agent. The polymeric substance serves also as a binder. During operation of the electrodes, the wetproofing material may lose its hydrophobicity for various reasons and the result is a penetration into the pores structures, reducing the interface between liquid and gas, notice by a loss of performance. By adding small amounts of wetproofing agents to the gases supplied to the electrodes, the original three-phase condition is maintained, or, if it is already partially degenerated, means and methods for its re-establishment are described. The invention claims substances and techniques for such maintenance and regeneration processes.