NSF Award
8760368
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of electrochemistry. The thrust of this experimental activity is to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing new, high surface area carbon and graphite anodes as electrodes for oxidative electrosyntheses. The number of stable, inexpensive anode materials available for use in electrosynthetic processes is quite limited. This Phase I activity capitalizes on new technology that has recently been developed by The Electrosynthesis Company. These materials have been found to be stable in strongly acidic media at high oxidation potentials. The efficacy of these materials relative to noble metals is being evaluated for use in four industrially important electrochemical processes: electrosyntheses of sodium perchlorate, persulfate, ozone, and dimethyl sebacate. These new electrode materials could provide equivalent or better performance than platinum, thereby resulting in lower cell capital and operating costs for the production of the desired chemicals. The potential commercial importance of this project is substantial in that replacement of a strategic material (platinum) is addressed.
