Electrolysis Electrode with Lithium Nickel Oxide Intermediate Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Alkaline water electrolysis electrodes using renewable energy sources face performance deterioration due to fluctuating power output, making long-term stable operation challenging.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst layer is disposed on a conductive substrate via an intermediate layer containing lithium-containing nickel oxide, represented by the composition formula LixNi2-xO2, to enhance stability and catalytic activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nickel-based anode is used for alkaline water electrolysis, then the electrode is stable in high-concentration alkali aqueous solution, but the performance deteriorates when renewable energy with fluctuating output is used as power source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining nickel-based substrate with lithium-containing nickel oxide (Li-Ni-O) catalyst layer. This composite structure maintains the chemical stability of nickel in alkali solution while adding the catalytic activity and stability of lithium nickel oxide, preventing performance deterioration under fluctuating renewable energy conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the anode surface by forming a lithium-containing nickel oxide layer with specific stoichiometry (Li:Ni ratio). This parameter change enhances the electrode's stability and catalytic activity, allowing it to withstand fluctuating current densities from renewable energy sources without performance degradation.
2Productivity
If platinum group metals or noble metal oxides are used as catalysts, then catalytic activity is enhanced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive platinum group metals and noble metal oxides with a cheaper lithium-containing nickel oxide catalyst layer. This substitution maintains adequate catalytic activity for oxygen evolution while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs, making the electrolysis system economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the catalyst composition from noble metals to lithium-containing nickel oxide, altering the chemical parameters while maintaining catalytic function. This parameter change achieves cost reduction without sacrificing essential catalytic activity for water electrolysis.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the operating temperature is raised to increase electrical conductivity, then conductivity improves, but corrosiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure where the lithium-containing nickel oxide layer protects the nickel substrate from corrosion at elevated temperatures. This composite material allows operation at higher temperatures (improving conductivity) while the protective oxide layer prevents excessive corrosiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electrode maintains stable electrolysis performance and catalytic activity over a long period, even with fluctuating renewable energy sources, preventing performance deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate layer which is formed on the surface of the electrically conductive substrate and contains a lithium-containing nickel oxide
Implementation Method 2
Both of the reaction of producing a nickel oxide and the reduction reaction of the produced nickel oxide progress on a metal surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an electrode for electrolysis in which electrolysis performance is hard to deteriorate and excellent catalytic activity is kept stable over a long period of time even when electric power in which there is a large fluctuation in output, such as renewable energy, is used as a power source. The electrode for electrolysis is an electrode 10 for electrolysis provided with an electrically conductive substrate 2 at least the surface of which contains nickel or a nickel-based alloy, an intermediate layer 4 formed on the surface of the electrically conductive substrate 2 and containing a lithium-containing nickel oxide represented by composition formula LixNi2-xO2 (0.02≤x≤0.5), and a catalyst layer 6 of a nickel cobalt spinel oxide, an iridium oxide, or the like, the catalyst layer 6 formed on the surface of the intermediate layer 4.