Patent attributes
There is provided a new type of electro-synthetic (electrochemical) or electro-energy cell, such as a fuel cell. The cell includes a liquid electrolyte and at least one gas diffusion electrode (GDE). The GDE operates as a gas depolarized electrode and includes a gas permeable material that is substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte, as well as a porous conductive material provided on a liquid electrolyte facing side of the gas diffusion electrode. The porous conductive material can be attached to the gas permeable material by being laminated. Alternatively, the porous conductive material is deposited or coated on at least part of the gas permeable material. A depolarizing gas can be received by the at least one gas diffusion electrode to gas depolarize the electrode. The depolarizing gas changes a half-reaction that would occur at the gas diffusion electrode to a half-reaction that is energetically more favorable.
