An alkaline electrolyzer electrode preparation system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of basic electrolytic cell electrode preparation systems, the system includes electrolytic cell, circulating pump, precursor flow regulator, anode side gas-liquid separator, cathode side gas-liquid separator, anode side gas flow regulator, and cathode side gas flow regulator, wherein, electrolytic cell is used to install the electrode matrix after pretreatment respectively in anode position and cathode position.By using the scheme provided in the embodiments of the utility model, based on the electrolytic cell, gas-liquid separator and circulating pump of basic electrolytic hydrogen production system and other equipment electrode preparation, the size of electrode can be adapted with the size of cathode and anode in electrolytic cell, can realize the simultaneous preparation of full-size industrial anode and cathode, significantly reduce the production cost of electrode;Multiple electrode matrix can be inserted in electrolytic cell at a time, so that multiple full-size industrial basic electrodes can be prepared at a time, suitable for batch production electrode required by basic electrolytic hydrogen production equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrolytic hydrogen production technology, and in particular to an electrode preparation system for an alkaline electrolyzer. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen production through water electrolysis has become mainstream in the field of hydrogen production technology due to its advantages such as wide availability of raw materials, efficient utilization of waste wind and electricity, and small equipment footprint. Among the various water electrolysis hydrogen production technologies, alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production technology is gradually gaining favor in industry due to its high technological maturity, low equipment cost, and ability to achieve large-scale hydrogen production. Currently, the maximum hydrogen production capacity of a single mature alkaline electrolyzer can reach 2000 Nm³. 3 / h, companies such as Hydrogen Age and the 718 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Group have launched single-unit hydrogen production capacities reaching 2000 Nm³. 3 An alkaline electrolytic cell with a capacity of / h.

[0003] Compared to simply increasing the size of the electrolytic cell, developing high-performance electrodes to improve its performance and reduce its cost appears to be more feasible and economical. However, the fabrication process for large-size electrodes is limited, and currently, electrolytic cell electrode fabrication still mainly relies on traditional methods such as thermal spraying, electrodeposition, and thermal decomposition. These methods suffer from high costs and significant raw material losses. Hydrothermal methods are a promising approach for electrode fabrication, capable of producing electrodes with lower production costs and superior performance. However, due to limitations in electrode fabrication equipment and methods, it is currently difficult to fabricate full-size industrial electrolytic cell electrodes (1m-2m in diameter), thus hindering their application in industrial electrode fabrication. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system, comprising an electrolytic cell 1, a circulating pump 2, a precursor flow regulator 3, an anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, a cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, an anode-side gas flow regulator 6, and a cathode-side gas flow regulator 7, wherein...

[0006] Electrolytic cell 1 is used to install pretreated electrode substrates at the anode and cathode positions, respectively;

[0007] The inlet of the electrolytic cell 1 is connected to the circulation pump 2, which is connected to the precursor flow regulator 3, the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5. The circulation pump 2 receives the pre-configured precursor solution input through the precursor flow regulator 3, and the circulating precursor solution output by the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5.

[0008] The anode-side outlet of electrolytic cell 1 is connected to the upper part of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, and the cathode-side outlet is connected to the upper part of the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5. The bottom outlets of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 are respectively connected to the circulation pump 2.

[0009] The anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 is connected to the anode-side gas flow regulator 6, and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 is connected to the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7. The anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 are used to introduce gas into the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, respectively, to regulate the gas environment and pressure of the precursor solution.

[0010] Preferably, the system further includes an anode-side pressure regulator 8 and a cathode-side pressure regulator 9;

[0011] The anode-side pressure regulator 8 is connected to the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and is used to regulate the pressure inside the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4.

[0012] The cathode-side pressure regulator 9 is connected to the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 and is used to regulate the pressure inside the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5.

[0013] Preferably, the system further includes a heating system for heating the precursor solution in the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, so that the temperature of the precursor solution is maintained within a preset range.

[0014] Preferably, the heating system of this system includes a circulating water system.

[0015] Preferably, the precursor solution comprises a metal salt solution.

[0016] Preferably, the precursor solution includes an alcohol solution or an H2O2 solution.

[0017] Preferably, the anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 are used to introduce oxygen, nitrogen, and / or compressed air into the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, respectively.

[0018] Preferably, the precursor flow regulator 3 is also used to: after a preset reaction time, drain the precursor solution and rinse it with clean water.

[0019] Preferably, a gap is left between the electrode substrate and the diaphragm in the electrolytic cell 1 to allow the precursor solution to wet the surface of the electrode substrate.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following advantages:

[0021] By adopting the solution provided in this utility model embodiment, electrodes are prepared based on equipment such as electrolyzers, gas-liquid separators, and circulating pumps in an alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production system. The size of the electrodes can be adapted to the size of the cathode and anode in the electrolyzer, enabling the simultaneous preparation of full-size industrial anodes and cathodes, significantly reducing the production cost of electrodes. Multiple electrode substrates can be inserted into the electrolyzer at one time, thereby preparing multiple full-size industrial alkaline electrodes at one time, suitable for mass production of electrodes required for alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Moreover, the raw material cost is low, the precursor can be recycled, and the consistency between electrode preparation batches is good. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart illustrating the method for preparing an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode according to an embodiment of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic flowchart of a method for preparing an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Microscopic image of the NiFe electrode on the anode side prepared by the method shown.

[0026] Figure 5 The diagram shows the polarization curves of an existing Ni photocell anode, an existing NiAl electrode, and an electrode prepared according to the present invention, compared using a Chenhua CHI660E electrochemical workstation. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate to understand the embodiments of the utility model described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a product or device comprising a series of units is not necessarily limited to those explicitly listed, but may include other units not explicitly listed or inherent to such product or device.

[0029] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0030] Furthermore, in addition to indicating direction or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," "linking," and "socketing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0032] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other. The present utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] This invention provides an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system is shown, as follows: Figure 1As shown, the system includes an electrolytic cell 1, a circulating pump 2, a precursor flow regulator 3, an anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, a cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, an anode-side gas flow regulator 6, and a cathode-side gas flow regulator 7.

[0035] Electrolytic cell 1 is used to install pretreated electrode substrates at the anode and cathode positions, respectively;

[0036] The inlet of the electrolytic cell 1 is connected to the circulation pump 2, which is connected to the precursor flow regulator 3, the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5. The circulation pump 2 receives the pre-configured precursor solution input through the precursor flow regulator 3, and the circulating precursor solution output by the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5.

[0037] The anode-side outlet of electrolytic cell 1 is connected to the upper part of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, and the cathode-side outlet is connected to the upper part of the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5. The bottom outlets of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 are respectively connected to the circulation pump 2.

[0038] The anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 is connected to the anode-side gas flow regulator 6, and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 is connected to the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7. The anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 are used to introduce gas into the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, respectively, to regulate the gas environment and pressure of the precursor solution.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the system may further include an anode-side pressure regulator 8 and a cathode-side pressure regulator 9;

[0040] The anode-side pressure regulator 8 is connected to the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and is used to regulate the pressure inside the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4.

[0041] The cathode-side pressure regulator 9 is connected to the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 and is used to regulate the pressure inside the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5.

[0042] The anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 can regulate the gas flow rate, thereby regulating the rate of change of the gas pressure in the precursor solution. The anode-side pressure regulator 8 and the cathode-side pressure regulator 9 can further regulate the gas pressure in the precursor solution.

[0043] In one embodiment, the precursor flow regulator 3, the anode-side gas flow regulator 6, and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 are all adjustable valves.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the system may further include a heating system for heating the precursor solution in the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, so that the temperature of the precursor solution is maintained within a preset range.

[0045] The heating system includes a circulating water system. (Reference) Figure 1 As shown, the circulating water system passes through the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, thereby heating the precursor solution in the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 to maintain it within a suitable temperature range.

[0046] The precursor solution may include a metal salt solution, or it may include a metal salt solution and an alcohol solution or a H2O2 solution.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, a gap is left between the electrode substrate and the diaphragm in the electrolytic cell 1 to allow the precursor solution to wet the surface of the electrode substrate.

[0048] The anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 are used to introduce oxygen, nitrogen, and / or compressed air into the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5, respectively. The introduced gases can regulate the gaseous environment of the electrode reaction, thus promoting the electrode reaction.

[0049] The precursor flow regulator 3 is also used to: after a preset reaction time, drain the precursor solution and rinse with clean water. The preset reaction time is an empirical value; after this reaction time, an electrode layer has formed on the electrode substrate in the electrolytic cell. At this point, the precursor solution is drained and rinsed with clean water. This rinsing can be done using deionized water. After rinsing, inert gas can be introduced for purging. After purging, a modified solvent can be introduced to modify the electrode surface, further improving electrode performance.

[0050] In this system, the specific circulation process of the precursor solution (alkali solution) is as follows: the precursor solution first flows through the precursor flow regulating valve 3, and then is sent into the electrolytic cell 1 under the action of the circulation pump 2. Afterwards, the precursor solution flows in the electrolytic cell 1 and flows out from the anode side and the cathode side respectively; the precursor solution flowing out from the anode flows into the top of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4; the precursor solution flowing out from the cathode side flows into the top of the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5; the precursor solutions in the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 converge at the bottom of the gas-liquid separators and flow into the electrolytic cell through the circulation pump 2. During electrode preparation, external gas sources can be introduced into the gas-liquid separators 4 and 5 through the gas flow regulating valves 6 and 7 on the anode side and the cathode side respectively. During electrode preparation, preparation can also be achieved under a certain pressure; the pressures of the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5 are controlled by the oxygen-side pressure regulating valve 8 and the cathode-side pressure regulating valve 9 respectively.

[0051] To ensure that the precursor can fully wet the electrode substrate in the electrolytic cell, a connecting pipe is installed at the bottom of the gas-liquid separators on the anode and cathode sides to achieve pressure balance between the anode and cathode electrodes in the electrolytic cell. Furthermore, during the electrode preparation stage, the precursor solution in gas-liquid separators 4 and 5 can be heated by circulating water at a certain temperature, thereby ensuring the continuous stability of the precursor temperature during electrode preparation.

[0052] By adopting the solution provided in this utility model embodiment, electrodes are prepared based on equipment such as electrolyzers, gas-liquid separators, and circulating pumps in an alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production system. The size of the electrodes can be adapted to the size of the cathode and anode in the electrolyzer, enabling the simultaneous preparation of full-size industrial anodes and cathodes, significantly reducing the production cost of electrodes. Multiple electrode substrates can be inserted into the electrolyzer at one time, thereby preparing multiple full-size industrial alkaline electrodes at one time, suitable for mass production of electrodes required for alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Moreover, the raw material cost is low, the precursor can be recycled, and the consistency between electrode preparation batches is good.

[0053] Example 2

[0054] Based on the same technical concept as in Embodiment 1 above, this utility model embodiment provides a method for preparing an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode, which is applied to the electrode preparation system described in Embodiment 1 and any of its embodiments. Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating this method is shown, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0055] Step 201: Assemble the pretreated electrode substrate into the electrolytic cell 1.

[0056] The pretreatment of the electrode substrate is used to remove dirt, oil stains, and other contaminants from its surface, thus achieving a clean surface. The electrode substrate can be immersed in an acidic environment of a specific concentration and temperature for a certain period to remove oil stains. After cleaning, the substrate can be further treated using methods such as spray coating, electrodeposition, heat treatment, and nitriding.

[0057] The electrode substrate is assembled into the electrolytic cell 1, and the electrode substrate and the diaphragm are fastened together. Preferably, a certain gap is left between the electrode substrate and the diaphragm to ensure that the subsequent precursor can fully wet the electrode surface. Then, the assembled electrolytic cell can be pressurized at 0.1 MPa to 3.6 MPa for 0 to 48 hours. After the electrolytic cell passes the leak test, the subsequent steps can be carried out.

[0058] For example, the metal substrate can be one or a combination of materials such as metal mesh, metal fiber felt, and foamed metal; materials include nickel, nickel-iron alloy, stainless steel, and nickel-aluminum alloy; the treatment method can be sandblasting or not. The metal substrate is immersed in a solution of oxalic acid with a certain mass fraction, controlling the solution temperature within the range of 0 to 100°C, for 5 to 120 minutes. Afterwards, it is repeatedly rinsed with deionized water and ethanol solution to remove the oxide layer and oil stains on the electrode surface and increase the surface roughness. Further modification treatments can be performed by methods such as spraying metal powder, electrodeposition, and heat treatment. After the above treatments, a pretreated electrode substrate is obtained.

[0059] Step 202: A pre-prepared precursor solution is introduced into the electrolytic cell 1 through the circulation pump 2, so that the precursor solution wets the electrode substrate and circulates between the electrolytic cell 1, the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4 and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5.

[0060] The anode and cathode outlets of electrolytic cell 1 are connected to the upper parts of gas-liquid separators 4 and 5, respectively, to regulate the pressure in the electrolytic cell. The inlet of electrolytic cell 1 is connected to the outlet of circulating pump 2.

[0061] A metal salt is dissolved in water and thoroughly mixed to form a homogeneous metal salt solution, i.e., a precursor solution. This solution is then fed into the electrolytic cell 1 via a precursor flow regulator 3 and a circulation pump 2. The circulation pump 2 circulates the precursor solution between the electrolytic cell 1, the anode-side gas-liquid separator 4, and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator 5. During the preparation process, a certain concentration of alcohol solution or H2O2 solution can be added to the precursor as a catalyst to promote the electrode preparation reaction.

[0062] As an example, a metal salt of a specific concentration can be dissolved in deionized water, thoroughly mixed and stirred to prepare a metal salt solution with a concentration of 10 to 10000 mmol / L. A certain volume and concentration of H₂O₂ or alcohol solutions such as ethanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, and n-butanol can be added. The metal salts include one or more of nickel nitrate, nickel chloride, nickel sulfate, ferric nitrate, ferrous nitrate, ferrous sulfate, ferric sulfate, ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, ferrous chloride, cobalt nitrate, cobalt sulfate, cobalt chloride, molybdenum chloride, ammonium molybdate, and sodium molybdate. The precursor solution obtained through this preparation method is then fed into an electrolytic cell for circulation.

[0063] Step 203: Gas is introduced into the anode-side gas flow regulator 6 and the cathode-side gas flow regulator 7 respectively to regulate the gas environment and pressure of the precursor solution.

[0064] During electrode preparation, the precursor solution can be heated using a heater to maintain it at a suitable reaction temperature. For example, a circulating water heat exchanger can be used to heat the precursor solution, while a circulating pump circulates the precursor solution within the electrolytic cell.

[0065] In addition, external gas sources such as oxygen, nitrogen, and compressed air can be introduced into the cathode and anode sides, and the gas pressure can be adjusted to promote electrode preparation through the gas environment and pressure.

[0066] In one example, the gas flow rate can be controlled using gas flow regulating valves 6 and 7, and the pressure range of the precursor solution can be adjusted to 0–1.6 MPa via oxygen-side pressure regulating valve 8 and cathode-side pressure regulating valve 9. During the preparation process, the precursor solution is heated using circulating water, and the temperature range of the precursor solution is controlled between 0 and 90°C.

[0067] Step 204: After the precursor solution has circulated for a preset time, the precursor solution is discharged, and the electrode substrate is cleaned to obtain the electrode.

[0068] After the precursor solution has circulated for a preset time and been drained, the electrode is immediately rinsed with clean water until the electrode surface is clean and free of residue. The water is then drained, and a gas at a certain temperature is introduced for secondary cleaning and drying. After electrode preparation is complete, a modification solution can be introduced to modify the electrode.

[0069] The circulation time of the precursor solution is, for example, 0.1-48h. During the circulation of the precursor solution, the precursor ion concentration can be detected at regular intervals. If the concentration value is lower than the threshold, the precursor solution is replenished; otherwise, the precursor flow regulator 3 can be turned off, and only the precursor solution already input into the system is used for circulation.

[0070] The modification treatment of the electrode may include, for example:

[0071] A modified solution is prepared and circulated into the electrolytic cell 1 using a circulating pump 2 to modify the electrode. The concentration of the modifying solvent is 0–10000 mmol / L, the soaking temperature is 0–90℃, and the soaking time is 0–48 h. After modification, the electrode is rinsed again with clean water, and then dried with compressed air at 0–90℃. The modifying solvent includes one or more of sodium phosphite, potassium phosphite, sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, boric acid, phosphoric acid, and silver nitrate.

[0072] The modified solution can also be injected into the electrode preparation system via a circulating pump 2, while simultaneously introducing one or more gases such as compressed air, oxygen, and nitrogen. Gas flow regulators 6 and 7 are used to adjust the pressure range of the modified solution to 0–1.6 MPa. During the preparation process, an external heat source (e.g., circulating water) is used to heat the modified solution at a temperature of 0–100°C. The circulation time of the modified solution is 0.1–48 h. During the circulation process, the concentration of the main active ions in the solution is monitored at regular intervals and replenished. After the modification treatment is completed, the modified solution is drained and rinsed with clean water, followed by purging with gas at a certain temperature, finally yielding the modified electrode.

[0073] In one embodiment, the pretreated electrode substrate is installed and secured at the anode and cathode positions of the electrolytic cell as required, and then the electrolytic cell is connected to the system. A precursor solution prepared in a specific ratio is added to a gas-liquid separator, and circulation is initiated. During the alkaline solution circulation, oxygen / compressed air is continuously introduced into the gas-liquid separator, and the temperature and pressure of the precursor are adjusted using a pressure regulating valve and an external heat source. After the electrode preparation is complete, the precursor solution is drained from the precursor flow regulating valve and stored, then rinsed thoroughly with clean water. After cleaning, nitrogen gas is introduced for further cleaning.

[0074] It should be noted that the steps provided in this embodiment of the present invention are merely examples, and the order of the steps may be changed if they do not contradict each other.

[0075] By adopting the solution provided in this utility model embodiment, electrodes are prepared based on equipment such as electrolyzers, gas-liquid separators, and circulating pumps in an alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production system. The size of the electrodes can be adapted to the size of the cathode and anode in the electrolyzer, enabling the simultaneous preparation of full-size industrial anodes and cathodes, significantly reducing the production cost of electrodes. Multiple electrode substrates can be inserted into the electrolyzer at one time, thereby preparing multiple full-size industrial alkaline electrodes at one time, suitable for mass production of electrodes required for alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Moreover, the raw material cost is low, the precursor can be recycled, and the consistency between electrode preparation batches is good.

[0076] Example 3

[0077] Based on the same technical concept as Embodiments 1 and 2 above, this utility model embodiment provides a method for preparing an alkaline electrolytic cell electrode, which is applied to the electrode preparation system described in Embodiment 1 and any of its embodiments. Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating this method is shown, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the method includes:

[0078] Step 301: Cut 6 pieces of nickel metal mesh with a diameter of 260 mm, immerse the nickel metal mesh in an oxalic acid solution with a mass fraction of 5 wt% and a temperature of 90 °C for 10 to 60 minutes, take it out and rinse it with clean water to serve as the electrode substrate.

[0079] Step 302: The cleaned electrode substrate is placed into an industrial alkaline electrolytic cell, with the cleaned electrode substrate on the anode and cathode sides of the electrolytic cell, respectively.

[0080] The electrolytic cell may include multiple chambers, each chamber being a unit where the electrolytic reaction takes place. In this embodiment, the electrolytic cell has three chambers, and the diaphragm is a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) diaphragm. The assembled electrolytic cell undergoes a pressure holding test at 3 MPa. The assembled electrolytic cell is then connected to the electrode preparation system described above.

[0081] Step 303: Accurately weigh a certain mass of nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4·6H2O) and a certain mass of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O), dissolve them in 30L of deionized water, and stir at 500rpm to prepare a solution containing 0.01–0.5 mol / L Ni. 2+ and 0.01~0.5mol / L Fe 2+ A concentration of metal salt precursor solution.

[0082] Step 304: Inject the prepared precursor solution into the electrode preparation system and start the circulation system. During the circulation, heat the precursor solution to 20-80°C using an external heat source; introduce compressed air and adjust the electrode preparation pressure to 0.1-1.0 MPa using a pressure regulating valve.

[0083] It can be equipped with temperature and pressure sensors to provide feedback, and the controller can automatically adjust the temperature and pressure based on the feedback information.

[0084] During electrode preparation, the precursor solution circulation time is preferably 24 hours. The following reaction mechanism promotes the uniform formation of NiFe-LDH: uniform contact and disturbance between oxygen and the catalyst material promotes the oxidation of ferrous ions to ferric ions; subsequently, the ferric ions oxidize nickel metal to divalent nickel ions, while the ferric ions are reduced to divalent ferric ions; finally, the NiFe-LDH structure is generated through the co-reaction of divalent nickel ions, divalent ferric ions, trivalent ferric ions with hydroxide ions and oxygen. During the preparation process, oxygen bubble disturbance promotes the nucleation process, further accelerating catalyst formation.

[0085] During the preparation process, a certain concentration of external compounds can be added to promote the preparation of electrode materials. For example, H2O2 or alcohol solutions such as ethanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, and n-butanol can be added.

[0086] Step 305: After completing the cycle, remove the electrolytic cell from the system, take out the electrode and rinse it thoroughly with deionized water to remove any residual electrolyte components on the electrode, and finally prepare the optimized NiFe-LDH electrode material.

[0087] Figure 4 The image shows a microscope image of the anode-side NiFe electrode prepared using the method provided in this embodiment of the invention. The image reveals that the catalytic material exhibits a layered structure. Figure 5 The diagram shows polarization curves obtained using a Chenhua CHI660E electrochemical workstation, comparing existing Ni photocell anodes, existing NiAl electrodes, and electrodes prepared according to this invention. The horizontal axis represents the voltage compared to the hydrogen standard electrode, and the vertical axis represents the current density. According to the results, the electrode prepared using the method of this invention significantly outperforms both the NiAl anode and the Ni photocell electrode.

[0088] By employing the solution provided in this embodiment of the invention, electrodes are prepared based on equipment such as electrolyzers, gas-liquid separators, and circulating pumps in an alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production system. The size of the electrodes can be adapted to the size of the cathode and anode in the electrolyzer, enabling the simultaneous preparation of full-size industrial anodes and cathodes, significantly reducing electrode production costs. Multiple electrode substrates can be inserted into the electrolyzer at once, thereby producing multiple full-size industrial alkaline electrodes simultaneously, suitable for mass production of electrodes required for alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Moreover, the raw material cost is low, the precursors are recyclable, and the batch-to-batch consistency of electrode preparation is good. Furthermore, the electrode preparation scheme provided in this embodiment of the invention allows for the reactivation and repair of electrolyzer electrodes, ensuring the stability of the electrolysis hydrogen production equipment during long-term operation. The metal salt solution used in this invention can be reused repeatedly, reducing the cost of industrial electrode preparation.

[0089] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. An alkaline electrolyzer electrode preparation system, characterized by, It includes an electrolytic cell (1), a circulating pump (2), a precursor flow regulator (3), an anode-side gas-liquid separator (4), a cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5), an anode-side gas flow regulator (6), and a cathode-side gas flow regulator (7), wherein An electrolytic cell (1) is used to install pretreated electrode substrates at the anode and cathode positions, respectively. The inlet of the electrolytic cell (1) is connected to the circulation pump (2), which is connected to the precursor flow regulator (3), the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4), and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5). The circulation pump (2) receives the pre-configured precursor solution input through the precursor flow regulator (3), and the circulating precursor solution output by the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5). The anode outlet of the electrolytic cell (1) is connected to the upper part of the anode gas-liquid separator (4), the cathode outlet is connected to the upper part of the cathode gas-liquid separator (5), and the bottom outlets of the anode gas-liquid separator (4) and the cathode gas-liquid separator (5) are respectively connected to the circulating pump (2). The anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) is connected to the anode-side gas flow regulator (6), and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5) is connected to the cathode-side gas flow regulator (7). The anode-side gas flow regulator (6) and the cathode-side gas flow regulator (7) are respectively used to introduce gas into the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5) to regulate the gas environment and pressure of the precursor solution.

2. The alkaline electrolyzer electrode preparation system of claim 1, wherein, It also includes an anode-side pressure regulator (8) and a cathode-side pressure regulator (9); The anode-side pressure regulator (8) is connected to the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) and is used to regulate the pressure inside the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4); The cathode-side pressure regulator (9) is connected to the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5) and is used to regulate the pressure inside the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5).

3. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heating system for heating the precursor solution in the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5) to maintain the temperature of the precursor solution within a preset range.

4. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heating system includes a circulating water system.

5. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The precursor solution includes a metal salt solution.

6. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The precursor solution includes an alcohol solution or an H2O2 solution.

7. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The anode-side gas flow regulator (6) and the cathode-side gas flow regulator (7) are used to introduce oxygen, nitrogen, and / or compressed air into the anode-side gas-liquid separator (4) and the cathode-side gas-liquid separator (5), respectively.

8. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The precursor flow regulator (3) is also used to: after a preset reaction time, drain the precursor solution and rinse it with clean water.

9. The alkaline electrolytic cell electrode preparation system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, A gap is left between the electrode substrate and the diaphragm in the electrolytic cell (1) to allow the precursor solution to wet the surface of the electrode substrate.

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