Anodes for alkaline electrolysis

1. A method of making an anode for an alkaline electrolysis cell comprising:

forming a layer of a precursor material on a carbonaceous material;

converting the precursor material to a hydroxide form;

wherein, said precursor material is a solution of manganese or cobalt salt; and

said carbonaceous material has a form selected from the group consisting of sheet, felt, cloth, mesh, foam, and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises a high surface area carbon material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises graphite.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor material is a manganese or cobalt metal salt with an anion selected from the group consisting of nitrate, acetate, sulfate, chloride and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor material is selected from the group consisting of cobalt acetate, manganese sulfate and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the layer comprises adsorption of the precursor material on the surface of the carbonaceous material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converting the precursor material to a hydroxide form is accomplished by treatment with an alkaline electrolyte.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the hydroxide solution comprises potassium hydroxide.

9. A method of making an anode for alkaline electrolysis cell comprising:

adsorbing a manganese or cobalt precursor material on a carbonaceous material;

converting the manganese or cobalt precursor material to hydroxide form;

converting in-situ the manganese or cobalt precursor material from hydroxide form to oxy-hydroxide form within the alkaline electrolysis cell;

wherein said carbonaceous material has a form selected from the group consisting of sheet, felt, cloth, mesh, foam, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises carbon felt.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises graphite felt.

12. A catalytic anode for an alkaline electrolysis cell prepared by:

forming a layer of a precursor material on a carbonaceous material; and

converting the precursor material to a hydroxide form;

wherein said carbonaceous material has a form selected from the group consisting of sheet, felt, cloth, mesh, foam, and combinations thereof; and

wherein the precursor material is selected from the group consisting of cobalt acetate, manganese sulfate and combinations thereof.

13. The anodes of claim 12 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises graphite.