Patent ID: 8758951

Claim:
An electrolytic cell for the production of hydrogen from coal slurries comprising: a) an anode; b) a cathode; c) an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte in acidic; and d) a fuel comprising coal, petroleum, coke, and char wherein at least one of the anode, the cathode, or the anode and the cathode comprise an electrode comprising: e) a carbon electrode material; f) a first noble metal layer on the carbon electrode material; and g) a second noble metal layer on the first metal layer, wherein the carbon electrode material is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, carbon microbeads, and carbon nanospheres; wherein said first noble metal is one of rhodium, ruthenium, and palladium and combinations thereof; and wherein said second layer is one of platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof.