ACTIVE ELECTRODE, ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL COMPRISING SAID ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ELECTRODE.

Claims

1. Xng* Barzanò & zanardo « 1.7 « Although the invention has been described in relation to particular active materials, sublayers, cells and methods of application, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars described but includes all equivalents falling within the scope of the claims. CLAIMS • » 1. Electrode for use in an electrochemical system, such as a . said electrode comprising the active material a sulfide, seylene, telluride or mixtures thereof of a transition metal, copper, lead or mixtures thereof. £· Electrode according to claim 1 wherein said active material is supported on a support which is mostly chemically inert to said system.

3. The electrode of claim 2 wherein said inert support is selected from the group comprising steel, stainless steel, carbon, graphite, cobalt, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, vanadium or chromium.

4. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said electrode comprises a metal or metal alloy retained in a matrix of material most of which is inert to said system, and wherein said metal or metal alloy is converted at its surface layer into sulfide, selenide or teliwur or mixtures thereof constituting said active layer.

5. The electrode of claim 4 wherein said electrode comprises brass.

6. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said active material has a large surface area and is inert to said system.

7. An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said active material is a sulfide, selenide or telluride, or mixtures thereof, of cobalt, nickel, copper, lead, molybdenum or ruthenium.

6. An electrode according to claim 7 wherein said active material is selected from the group comprising CoS, CuS, Pbsc, KuS2, MoS2, NiTe, Cu2Se.

9. An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode, said electrode comprising as active material a sulfide, selenide, telluride or mixtures thereof of a transition metal, copper, lead or mixtures thereof.

10. An electrochemical cell according to claim 9 wherein said cell is a photoelectrochemical cell.

11. An electrochemical cell according to claim 9 wherein said active material is supported on a support which is mostly chemically bonded.

19. « Insf.Bar a anò & Zanardo inert medium in said system.

12. Electrochemical cell according to claim 11 wherein said inert medium is selected from the group comprising steel, stainless steel, carbon, graphite, cobalt, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, vanadium or chromium.

13. An electrochemical cell according to any one of claims 9-12 wherein said electrode comprises a metal or metal alloy retained in a matrix of material of which the majority is inert and wherein said metal or metal alloy is converted at its sulfide, selenide, telluride or mixtures thereof layer constituting said active layer.

14. An electrode according to claim 13 wherein said electrode comprises brass,* 15. An electrochemical cell according to claim 9 comprising at least one redox couple of polychalcogenides, and wherein said active material is a sulfide, selenide, telluride, or mixtures thereof, of cobalt, n-hel, copper, lead, molybdenum, or ruthenium. ' 16. Electrode according to claim 15 wherein said active material is selected from the group comprising CoS, CuGs, PbSe, RuS2, MoSp* NiTe, Cu2Se, * 20 - Ing. Barzan&Zanardo 17. Electrochemical cell according to claim 15 wherein said active material has a large surface area* 18. An electrochemical cell according to claim 9 wherein said cell is a photoelectrochemical cell and said electrode is a counter electrode.

19. A process for forming an electrode for use in an electrochemical system containing at least one redox couple of polychalcogenides, said method comprising forming an active layer of sulfide, selenide, telluride, or mixtures thereof on a support.

20. Method according to claim 19 comprising the step of applying said active layer or a precursor thereof on said support by electrolysis, 21. A method according to claim 19 comprising the step of applying said active layer or a precursor thereof to said support by immersion.

221. A method according to claim 19 comprising the step of applying said active layer or a precursor thereof to said support by vacuum deposition.

23. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying said active layer or a precursor thereof to said support by deposition of chemical vapors, 24. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying said active layer or a precursor thereof to said support by spraying, 25. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of converting the support, part or all of which is a precursor of said active layer, to its surface to form said active layer, 26. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a hydroxyl layer to said support and converting said hydroxyl layer to a sulfide, selenide, telluride, or mixtures thereof, 27.

28. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

29. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

30. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

31. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

32. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

33. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

34. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

35. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

36. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying a metal oxide, a hydrated metal oxide layer to said support and converting said layer to a sulfide, seinide, telluride or mixtures thereof.

37. The method of claim 19 comprising the step of applying ····: • · * * * involving the step of applying a metal having a large surface area to said support and converting said metal into said sulfide, selenide, telluride or mixtures thereof, 29* Electrode produced by the method of claim, 19* f ! f "Jò & p, Xng, Bars M nardo ING* BARZANO' & ZANARDO S,p,A* DESIGNATION OF INVENTOR WITH REFERENCE TO THE ATTACHED PATENT APPLICATION WE HEREBY NOTIFY THIS OFFICE THAT THE INVENTOR(S) OF THE INVENTION IS / ARE * 1) Gary Hodes 2) Joost Man Asser 3) David Cahen.