Disclosed are an electrode for gas generation, a method of preparing the electrode, and a device including the electrode for gas generation. The electrode includes a gas generating electrode layer and a three-dimensional (3D) super-aerophobic layer formed on at least one portion of the gas generating electrode layer and including porous hydrogel.

Disclosed are an electrode for gas generation, a method of preparing the electrode, and a device including the electrode for gas generation. The electrode includes a gas generating electrode layer and a three-dimensional (3D) super-aerophobic layer formed on at least one portion of the gas generating electrode layer and including porous hydrogel.

A synthetic methodology for robust, nanostructured films of cobalt oxide over metal evaporated gold or similar material layer of, e.g., 50 nm, directly onto glass or other substrates via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). This approach allows film growth rates in the range of, e.g., 0.8 nm/s, using a commercially available precursor, which is ˜10-fold the rate of electrochemical synthetic routes. Thus, 250 nm thick cobalt oxide films may be generated in only 5 minutes of deposition time. The water oxidation reaction for such films may start at ˜0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl with current density of 10 mA/cm.sup.2 and is achieved at ˜0.75 V corresponding to an overpotential of 484 mV. This current density is further increased to 60 mA/cm.sup.2 at ˜1.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) calculations indicate that the synergy between a Au-film, acting as electron sink, and the cobalt oxide film(s), acting as catalytic layer(s), are more pronounced than the surface area effects.

A synthetic methodology for robust, nanostructured films of cobalt oxide over metal evaporated gold or similar material layer of, e.g., 50 nm, directly onto glass or other substrates via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). This approach allows film growth rates in the range of, e.g., 0.8 nm/s, using a commercially available precursor, which is ˜10-fold the rate of electrochemical synthetic routes. Thus, 250 nm thick cobalt oxide films may be generated in only 5 minutes of deposition time. The water oxidation reaction for such films may start at ˜0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl with current density of 10 mA/cm.sup.2 and is achieved at ˜0.75 V corresponding to an overpotential of 484 mV. This current density is further increased to 60 mA/cm.sup.2 at ˜1.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) calculations indicate that the synergy between a Au-film, acting as electron sink, and the cobalt oxide film(s), acting as catalytic layer(s), are more pronounced than the surface area effects.

Copper-boron-ferrite (Cu—B—Fe) composites may be prepared and immobilized on graphite electrodes in a silica-based sol-gel, e.g., from rice husks. Different bimetallic loading ratios can produce fast in-situ electrogeneration of reactive oxygen species, H.sub.2O.sub.2 and .Math.OH, e.g., via droplet flow-assisted heterogeneous electro-Fenton reactor system. Loading ratios of, e.g., 10 to 30 wt. % Fe.sup.3+ and 5 to 15% wt. Cu.sup.2+, can improve the catalytic activities towards pharmaceutical beta blockers (atenolol and propranolol) degradation in water. Degradation efficiencies of at least 99.9% for both propranolol and atenolol in hospital wastewater were demonstrated. Radicals of .Math.OH in degradation indicate a surface mechanism at inventive cathodes with correlated contributions of iron and copper. Copper and iron can be embedded in porous graphite electrode surface and catalyze the conversion of H.sub.2O.sub.2 to .Math.OH to enhance the degradation. Inventive cathodes can be stable catalytically after 20 or more cycles under neutral and acidic conditions.

Copper-boron-ferrite (Cu—B—Fe) composites may be prepared and immobilized on graphite electrodes in a silica-based sol-gel, e.g., from rice husks. Different bimetallic loading ratios can produce fast in-situ electrogeneration of reactive oxygen species, H.sub.2O.sub.2 and .Math.OH, e.g., via droplet flow-assisted heterogeneous electro-Fenton reactor system. Loading ratios of, e.g., 10 to 30 wt. % Fe.sup.3+ and 5 to 15% wt. Cu.sup.2+, can improve the catalytic activities towards pharmaceutical beta blockers (atenolol and propranolol) degradation in water. Degradation efficiencies of at least 99.9% for both propranolol and atenolol in hospital wastewater were demonstrated. Radicals of .Math.OH in degradation indicate a surface mechanism at inventive cathodes with correlated contributions of iron and copper. Copper and iron can be embedded in porous graphite electrode surface and catalyze the conversion of H.sub.2O.sub.2 to .Math.OH to enhance the degradation. Inventive cathodes can be stable catalytically after 20 or more cycles under neutral and acidic conditions.

An electrode catalyst for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst, and a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a Tröger's base skeleton containing a quaternary ammonium group. A water electrolysis cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode. At least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and the cathode includes the electrode catalyst.

An electrode catalyst for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst, and a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a Tröger's base skeleton containing a quaternary ammonium group. A water electrolysis cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is disposed between the anode and the cathode. At least one selected from the group consisting of the anode and the cathode includes the electrode catalyst.

A method of producing an electrocatalyst, comprising the steps of: a) electrodeposition or electrochemical plating of an alloy comprising nickel and a second metal on a copper, nickel or other metal substrate; and b) electrochemical or chemical dissolution of deposited second metal to obtain a nanoporous structure on the copper, nickel or other metal substrate.

A flow-through electrolysis cell includes a hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode. A method of reducing CO.sub.2 includes flowing the CO.sub.2 through the hierarchical nanoporous metal cathode of the flow-through electrolysis cell.