Visualizing gas evolution on graphite and oxygen-evolving anodes

Laurent Cassayre (1) , Torstein A. Utigard (2) , Sylvie Bouvet (1)

1 University of Toronto at Scarborough
2 Pechiney

Recent progress in material science might soon allow the replacement of the consumable carbon anode by an inert material. This is likely to induce changes in the overall process, and particularly in the gas evolution. Video recordings of oxygen-evolving anodes (SnO2, Cu, Cu-Ni) and carbon anodes were performed in laboratory electrolysis cells, using direct observation from above, a see-through cell, and radiography techniques. The gas behavior was very different between the two kinds of anodes, and probably linked to the wettability of the material by the electrolyte.

Mots clés: Contact angle; Bubble size; Graphite anode; Carbon anode; Inert anode

Domaines: Génie chimique; Génie des procédés

Laurent Cassayre, Torstein A. Utigard, Sylvie Bouvet. Visualizing gas evolution on graphite and oxygen-evolving anodes. JOM Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 2002, 54 (5), pp.41-45. ⟨10.1007/BF02701696⟩. ⟨hal-02400252⟩