ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SUPPORT STRUCTURE
An electrochemical cell can comprise: a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode and a sintered porous support member disposed on a side of the membrane opposite the second electrode, wherein the support member comprises a first portion on first side of the support member proximate the membrane and a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite the membrane, wherein the second portion has a second portion porosity different from a first portion porosity.
1 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a sintered porous support member disposed on a side of the membrane opposite the second electrode, wherein the support member comprises a first portion on first side of the support member proximate the membrane and a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite the membrane, wherein the second portion has a second portion porosity different from a first portion porosity.
2 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the second portion porosity is greater than the first portion porosity.
3 . The electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein the first portion porosity is less than or equal to about 60%.
4 . The electrochemical cell of claim 3 , wherein the first portion porosity is about 35% to about 50%.
5 . The electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein the second portion porosity is greater than or equal to about 50%.
6 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 , wherein the second portion porosity is about 50% to about 70%.
7 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a third portion disposed on a side of the second portion opposite the first portion, wherein the third portion has a third portion porosity that is less than or equal to the second portion porosity.
8 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of layers, wherein each layer has a layer porosity of greater than or equal to a previous layer.
9 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a single layer comprising a decreasing porosity gradient from the first side toward a second side disposed opposite the first side.
10 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises a second side comprising a channel.
11 . The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the channel extends from an inlet disposed proximate an edge of the side to a terminus disposed proximate a geometric center of the side.
12 . The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the channel extends from an inlet disposed proximate an edge of the side to an outlet disposed proximate the same or a different edge of the side.
13 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises higher porosity regions and lower porosity regions.
14 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure pad disposed in physical and electrical communication with the support member.
15 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , further comprising an additional sintered porous support member disposed on a side of the membrane opposite the support member.
16 . The electrochemical cell of claim 15 , wherein the additional support member comprises the second electrode.
17 . The electrochemical cell of claim 15 , wherein the additional support member further comprises a first additional portion on first side of the additional support member proximate the membrane and a second additional portion disposed on a side of the first additional portion opposite the membrane, wherein the second additional portion has a second additional portion porosity different from a first additional portion porosity.
18 . The electrochemical cell of claim 17 , wherein the second additional portion porosity is greater than the first additional portion porosity.
19 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises the first electrode.
20 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode;
a flow field consisting essentially of a sintered porous support member disposed in electrical and physical communication with the first electrode; and
a pressure assembly disposed in physical and electrical communication with the flow field.
21 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the support member further comprises a first portion adjacent the membrane and a second portion on a side of the first portion opposite the membrane, and wherein the second portion has a second portion porosity different from a first portion porosity.
22 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the second portion porosity is greater than the first portion porosity.
23 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the support member further comprises the first electrode.
24 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the support member is configured to support the membrane at pressures of greater than or equal to about 100 psi.
25 . The electrochemical cell of claim 24 , wherein the pressures are greater than or equal to 500 psi.
26 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the porous support member comprises a channel.
27 . The electrochemical cell of claim 20 , wherein the pressure pad assembly is a pressure pad.
28 . A method for operating an electrochemical cell, comprising:
passing water through a sintered porous support member to a first electrode;
producing hydrogen ions and oxygen;
moving the hydrogen ions across a membrane to a second electrode, wherein there is a pressure differential across the membrane of greater than or equal to about 100 psi; and
forming hydrogen gas at the second electrode;
wherein the support member is disposed on a side of the membrane opposite the second electrode, wherein the support member comprises a first portion on first side of the support member proximate the membrane and a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite the membrane, and wherein the second portion has a second portion porosity different from a first portion porosity.
29 . A method for operating an electrochemical cell, comprising:
passing water through a flow field to a first electrode;
producing hydrogen ions and oxygen;
moving the hydrogen ions across a membrane to a second electrode, wherein there is a pressure differential across the membrane of greater than or equal to about 100 psi; and
forming hydrogen gas at the second electrode;
wherein the flow field consists essentially of a sintered porous support member disposed in electrical and physical communication with the first electrode, and wherein a pressure assembly is disposed in physical and electrical communication with the flow field.