Ceramic-based materials for electrochemical applications

Novel catalytic ceramic-based materials that simultaneously possess high surface area and adsorptive capacity, with proton and/or electron conducting properties, were developed for electrocatalytic and waste-stream treatment processes. These novel inorganic proton conducting membranes were produced by incorporating inorganic low-temperature proton conductors such as polymeric phosphates of polyvalent metals into the porous structure of different active or inert substrates such as ceramics (in the form of tubes, discs and paper), zeolites or carbon cloth. Electrocatalytic activity was obtained by coating electroconductive surface layers that acted both as electrode and catalyst. Bench scale and pilot scale test reactors were built and commissioned. Comparison with existing technologies was undertaken for several applications. Such high surface-area inorganic materials that support nanoscale metal clusters are being tested as electrode materials in anodic oxidation, inorganic fuel cells and hydrogen generation.