Electrolytic cell with improved hydrogen evolution cathode

摘要

An electrolytic cell having an improved hydrogen evolution cathode, said cathode being characterized by a conductive metal core and an integral Raney-type catalytic surface predominantly derived from an adherent ternary aluminide Beta structured intermetallic crystalline precursory outer portion of the metal core is disclosed. The precursory outer portion preferably has molybdenum and titanium added to give a precursor alloy having the formula Ni.sub.x Mo.sub.y Ti.sub.z Al.sub.3 where x is within the range of from about 75 to about 94 weight percent, y is within the range of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent and z is within the range of from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of the Ni-Mo- Ti portion of the alloy. Also disclosed is a method of producing a low overvoltage cathode. The method includes the steps of taking a Ni-Mo-Ti core or substrate having about 5-20 weight percentage of Mo and about 1-5 weight percent Ti and coating it with aluminum, heat treating to form a Ni-Mo-Ti-Al quaternary alloy with mostly NiAl.sub.3 (ordered orthorhombic) crystal structure and then leaching out the Al to produce a ternary NiMoTi alloy Raney surface. A method for utilizing said low overvoltage cathode for producing hydrogen and an exemplary cell having a permselective membrane therein for so doing are also disclosed.