Abstract: An electrolyser and a method for producing the same. The electrolyser comprises at least two electrolytic cells respectively provided with anodic and cathodic frames where the frames are equipped with feed and discharge channels that reduce stray currents and facilitate cell assembly. The electrolyser may be advantageously employed for high pressure alkaline water electrolysis (AWE).

Abstract: A method for alkaline water electrolysis of water in an electrolyzer and an electrolyzer configured to carry out the method, the electrolyzer comprising at least one electrolytic cell having an anodic compartment provided with an anode, a cathodic compartment provided with a cathode, and a separator arranged between the anodic and cathodic compartments. The method comprises selecting a threshold current density such that at operating current densities up to the threshold current density, the migration of hydrogen generated in the cathodic compartment through the separator into the anodic compartment is limited, and at operating current densities above the threshold current density, a migration of oxygen generated in the said anodic compartment through the separator into the cathodic compartment is limited.

Abstract: An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which are separated from one another via an ion exchange membrane. The chambers are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the flowing electrolyte, each with one electrode. The inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs or ribs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes. The webs or ribs are provided at least regionally with holes or cut outs. The webs or ribs include at least one lower region free of holes or cut outs. The electrolysis device provides sufficient mixing in the upper foam phase in the longitudinal direction and also at the same time the airlift pump effect is maintained by way of ascending gas bubbles in the lower region.

Abstract: An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which are separated from one another via an ion exchange membrane. The chambers are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the flowing electrolyte, each with one electrode. The inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs or ribs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes. The webs or ribs are provided at least regionally with holes or cut outs. The webs or ribs include at least one lower region free of holes or cut outs. The electrolysis device provides sufficient mixing in the upper foam phase in the longitudinal direction and also at the same time the airlift pump effect is maintained by way of ascending gas bubbles in the lower region.

Abstract: A reference-standard device (20) for calibration of measurements of length, comprising a substrate (10) that includes a surface (10a) having at least one calibration pattern (11). According to the invention, this pattern comprises a plurality of nanometric structures (14), said nanometric structures (14) having one and the same section in the plane of said surface and having the same nanometric dimensions, in particular less than 50 nm, said nanometric structures (14) being arranged at a distance from one another by a constant pitch of nanometric length, in particular less than 50 nm, in at least one direction, said nanometric structures (14) being arranged within spatial regions (12) delimited in one or more directions in the plane of the substrate (10), said nanometric structures (14) being obtained via application to said substrate (10) of a process of nanostructuring (100) by means of a mask of block copolymers in order to make calibrations of measurements of length of the order of nanometres.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode which can be employed in the cells of plants for the electrolytic extraction of copper and other non-ferrous metals from ionic solutions. The electrode consists of an apparatus comprising at least one anodic panel for the evolution of oxygen or chlorine connected through a plurality of resistors in parallel to at least one distribution structure for electrical current. The panel may optionally exhibit areas of electrical discontinuity. The invention also relates to an electrolyser using the electrode described above.

Abstract: A reference-standard device (20) for calibration of measurements of length, comprising a substrate (10) that includes a surface (10a) having at least one calibration pattern (11). According to the invention, this pattern comprises a plurality of nanometric structures (14), said nanometric structures (14) having one and the same section in the plane of said surface and having the same nanometric dimensions, in particular less than 50 nm, said nanometric structures (14) being arranged at a distance from one another by a constant pitch of nanometric length, in particular less than 50 nm, in at least one direction, said nanometric structures (14) being arranged within spatial regions (12) delimited in one or more directions in the plane of the substrate (10), said nanometric structures (14) being obtained via application to said substrate (10) of a process of nanostructuring (100) by means of a mask of block copolymers in order to make calibrations of measurements of length of the order of nanometres.

Abstract: An electrolysis device for the electrolytic treatment of liquids has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which are separated from one another via an ion exchange membrane. The chambers are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the flowing electrolyte, each with one electrode. The inner space of the anode chamber and/or of the cathode chamber are/is subdivided by webs or ribs extending transversely with respect to the electrodes. The webs or ribs are provided at least regionally with holes or cut outs. The webs or ribs include at least one lower region free of holes or cut outs. The electrolysis device provides sufficient mixing in the upper foam phase in the longitudinal direction and also at the same time the airlift pump effect is maintained by way of ascending gas bubbles in the lower region.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode which can be employed in the cells of plants for the electrolytic extraction of copper and other non-ferrous metals from ionic solutions. The electrode consists of an apparatus comprising at least one anodic panel for the evolution of oxygen or chlorine connected through a plurality of resistors in parallel to at least one distribution structure for electrical current. The panel may optionally exhibit areas of electrical discontinuity. The invention also relates to an electrolyser using the electrode described above.

Abstract: Self-assembled block copolymer films having two or more blocks are manufactured by distributing a solution containing at least one block copolymer onto the substrate so as to partially coat a substrate surface, obtaining an intermediate product. A block copolymer is self-assembled by heating the intermediate product. The self-assembling step includes Rapid Thermal Processing, which is performed by heating the intermediate product up to a first target temperature, ranging from a glass transition temperature to an order-disorder transition temperature of the block copolymer, through a temperature rising ramp having a rate of temperature change not lower than 5° C./second; maintaining the intermediate product at the target temperature for a time interval not longer than 60 minutes, whereby a sample is obtained on the surface of which a self-assembled film of the block copolymer has been made; and cooling the sample down to the ambient temperature through a temperature descending ramp.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of retrofitting of a membrane electrolysis cell, wherein a rigid cathode is shaped by plastic deformation of the regions in correspondence of cathodic supports; a pre-shaped conductive elastic element having compressed regions in correspondence of said cathodic supports is overlaid onto said rigid cathode; a flexible planar cathode provided with a catalytic coating is overlaid onto said conductive elastic element. The invention also concerns a correspondingly retrofitted electrolysis cell.

Abstract: Self-assembled block copolymer films having two or more blocks are manufactured by distributing a solution containing at least one block copolymer onto the substrate so as to partially coat a substrate surface, obtaining an intermediate product. A block copolymer is self-assembled by heating the intermediate product. The self-assembling step includes Rapid Thermal Processing, which is performed by heating the intermediate product up to a first target temperature, ranging from a glass transition temperature to an order-disorder transition temperature of the block copolymer, through a temperature rising ramp having a rate of temperature change not lower than 5° C./second; maintaining the intermediate product at the target temperature for a time interval not longer than 60 minutes, whereby a sample is obtained on the surface of which a self-assembled film of the block copolymer has been made; and cooling the sample down to the ambient temperature through a temperature descending ramp.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of retrofitting of a membrane electrolysis cell, wherein a rigid cathode is shaped by plastic deformation of the regions in correspondence of cathodic supports; a pre-shaped conductive elastic element having compressed regions in correspondence of said cathodic supports is overlaid onto said rigid cathode; a flexible planar cathode provided with a catalytic coating is overlaid onto said conductive elastic element. The invention also concerns a correspondingly retrofitted electrolysis cell.

Abstract: An electrolysis cell provided with a separator, suitable for chlor-alkali electrolysis, has a planar flexible cathode kept in contact with the separator by an elastic conductive element pressed by a current distributor and an anode consisting of a punched sheet or mesh supporting the separator suitable for being individually pre-assembled and used as elementary unit of a modular arrangement to form an electrolyzer whose terminal cells only are connected to the electric power supply; the electrical continuity between adjacent cells being assured by conductive contact strips secured to the external anodic walls of the shells delimiting each cell with the stiffness of the cathode current distributor and of the anodic structure and the elasticity of the conductive element cooperate in maintaining a uniform cathode to separator contact with a homogeneous pressure distribution meanwhile ensuring a suitable mechanical load on the contact strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector for electrochemical diaphragm or membrane-type cells, comprising a layer obtained by interlacing or weaving of a multiplicity of first sets of metal wires with a multiplicity of single metal wires or of second sets of metal wires and provided with substantially parallel corrugations. Such layer is coupled to a planar element consisting of a cloth or a flattened stocking formed by weaving of a single metal wire. The current collector is characterised by a low angular coefficient of the pressure/thickness ratio over a wide range of compression levels.

Abstract: An electrolysis cell provided with a separator, suitable for chlor-alkali electrolysis, has a planar flexible cathode kept in contact with the separator by an elastic conductive element pressed by a current distributor and an anode consisting of a punched sheet or mesh supporting the separator suitable for being individually pre-assembled and used as elementary unit of a modular arrangement to form an electrolyser whose terminal cells only are connected to the electric power supply; the electrical continuity between adjacent cells being assured by conductive contact strips secured to the external anodic walls of the shells delimiting each cell with the stiffness of the cathode current distributor and of the anodic structure and the elasticity of the conductive element cooperate in maintaining a uniform cathode to separator contact with a homogeneous pressure distribution meanwhile ensuring a suitable mechanical load on the contact strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector for electrochemical diaphragm or membrane-type cells, comprising a layer obtained by interlacing or weaving of a multiplicity of first sets of metal wires with a multiplicity of single metal wires or of second sets of metal wires and provided with substantially parallel corrugations. Such layer is coupled to a planar element consisting of a cloth or a flattened stocking formed by weaving of a single metal wire. The current collector is characterised by a low angular coefficient of the pressure/thickness ratio over a wide range of compression levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for membrane electrolysis cells comprising a grooved metal support favouring the gas release and the electrolyte renewal on its surface. The grooved geometry of the support may be obtained by erosion of a metal sheet with abrasive media in a continuous process.