Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Membranes
Anode
Cathode
Anolyte
flow
Catholyte
flow
Fig. 19.3
Schematic diagram of a flow
electrolyser.
Plastic
electrode
extensions
Plastic
filler
BIPOLAR
ELECTRODES
Electrical
connector
Electrical
connector
End
electrode
End
electrode
ELECTROLYTE FLOW
Plastic-lined
vessel
Fig. 19.4
Undivided parallel plate cell
design.
areas of the order of 1000-10 000 m
2
m
-3
are possible,
which is at least an order of magnitude greater
than for parallel plate cells. With sufficient flow of
electrolyte through this media, good mass-transfer
rates usually can be achieved.
In the production of electrocatalytic electrodes,
nanometre-size particles often are deposited onto
suitable substrates, such as carbon powder, to
produce very active electrode structures. Such struc-
tures currently are used in the design of fuel cell elec-
trodes, where the size of the electrocatalyst means
that localised diffusion-limiting currents are very
high and mass-transport limitations in 'solution' do
not arise.
