Patent ID: 11898258
Assignee: B.G. NEGEV TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS LTD., AT BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC C  H  Y | IPC C  H

Claim 0:
1. An electrochemical cell for oxidizing methane (CH4) to methanol (CH3OH), comprising
i) an electrode comprising nickel in an oxidized form selected from the group consisting of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2), nickel oxide hydroxide (NiOOH), and nickel foam;
ii) an electrolyte comprising a base, such as a hydroxide or carbonate comprising solution, in contact with said electrode;
iii) pressurized CH4 source configured to deliver gaseous CH4 to an electrode surface;
iv) voltage source connected with said electrode; and
v) means for reducing thermodynamic activity of CH3OH near the surface of said electrode;
wherein said cell produces CH3OH when an electric current flows through the cell; and
wherein said means for reducing thermodynamic activity of CH3OH comprises a catalytic bilayer coating on the surface of said electrode.