Abstract

An electrolyzer is provided for electrolyzing water into its constituent elements, namely oxygen and hydrogen gas. The electrolyzer includes a vessel in which a sulfonated solid polymer electrolyte is situated. The sulfonated solid polymer electrolyte is selected from a group including sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK), sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES), sulfonated polybenzimidazole (SPBI), sulfonated polyphenylquinoxaline (SPPQ) and sulfonated fluorinated polyimide (SFPI). The electrolyzer also includes anode and cathode electrodes situated on the electrolyte. A direct current (DC) power supply is coupled to said anode and cathode electrodes to drive the reaction. A heater heats the electrolyte and a water supply is connected to one of said cathode and anode electrodes. The resultant oxygen and hydrogen are collected at the respective electrodes. The solid polymer electrolyte desirably operates with relatively high ionic conductivity at high temperatures without loss of structu

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 5,271,813

Application Serial Number

08/038,887

Issue Date

12-21-1993

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

Department

FSEC

Allowance Date

9-28-1993

Filing Date

3-29-1993

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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