Platinized Titanium Screen

Platinized Titanium (PtTi) Screens are primarily used in electrolyzer stacks as part of the flow field or diffuser material, particularly on the oxygen (anode) side, in place of the carbon-based Gas Diffusion Layers (GDL) used in fuel cells.  Our platinized titanium screens are produced from expanded titanium that has been flattened and annealed, ensuring a smooth, flat surface suitable for use in electrolyzer or fuel cell stacks. Although most commonly used on the anode side of an electrolyzer, PtTi screens are often used on the Cathode side of the electrolyzer as well.  Occasionally they can be found in fuel cells as well.

Why not use a Carbon based Gas Diffusion Layer in an Electrolyzer?
Carbon based GDL materials will be consumed and converted into CO2 gas in the presence of the Oxygen ions and Voltage found on the Anode (Oxygen) side of the electrolyzer.  This secondary reaction of oxidizing the Carbon in the GDL will give temporarily lower electrolysis voltage, but this is a short lived phenomenon.  The carbon GDL is quickly consumed, resulting in poor compression in the stack, and thus high resistance and lower performance.

You can still use carbon cloth or carbon paper material on the Hydrogen side (cathode) since there is no oxygen on that side that will oxidize the GDL material.

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Why Platinized vs Untreated Titanium?
Untreated Titanium will not be consumed as a carbon Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) will, however, the presence of the Oxygen does have an impact.  Untreated Titanium quickly forms an Oxide coating (TiO2) in the presence of oxygen.  This coating is an excellent insulator and will therefore increase the resistance in the cell, thereby lowering performance.  This takes longer to be evident as a problem than the oxidation of the carbon GDL, but is still a factor.

This oxidation of the Titanium can be prevented by Gold coating or, as with this product, Platinization.  The platinization is a very stable coating and also helps to promote the electrolysis process, increasing efficiency slightly and stabilizing performance dramatically.

Function of the Platinum Coating for This Product
The main functionality of the platinum coating is to maintain the electrical conductivity of the substrate itself for demanding applications such as longer operational lifetime or pressurized electrolyzer (up to 450 psi) applications.  In the industry, it has been observed that platinized titanium screen can be used at the anode side of the PEM electrolyzer hardware at such pressure values.  Higher pressures than 450 psi would create safety issues for titanium substrate in presence of pure oxygen even if the environment is fully wetted.  Platinum coating does not have a continuous layer for its structure.  The estimated platinum metal loading for this product is approximately 60-80 micrograms per cm2 of the substrate's physical dimensions.

Catalytic Activity of the Platinum Coating for this Product
The platinum coating in this product does not have any catalytic activity.  Catalysis requires the material of interest to have sufficient surface defects and also sufficient loading for the catalytically active component.  Platinum particles in the coating does not have the essential surface defects and has zero catalytic activity for most chemical or electrochemical reactions and hence, this product should not be used for catalysis reactions or applications that require catalytically active materials.  

Titanium Mesh Properties (inches)

Thickness

Strand Width

Long Way of Diamond

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Mica Quickstart Guide: 61 Uses for Mica Powder

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Percent Open Area

0.002 0.004 0.031 62% 0.004 0.006 0.031 Undisclosed 0.005 0.010 0.125 64% 0.007 0.007 0.125 75% 0.010 0.012 0.125 57%

 

Platinized Titanium Anode Description

Platinized Titanium Anode consists of a titanium anode coated with platinum or platinum metal oxides. These anodes act as inert and non-consumable electrodes, making them exceptionally long-lasting. Moreover, they remain insoluble in the electrolyte, even under the conditions present during electrolysis.

Platinum is an ideal anode material due to its outstanding conductivity and low consumption rate. However, given its status as a precious metal, a cost-effective approach is often employed by electroplating a thin layer of platinum over a highly corrosion-resistant substrate. Titanium, known for its ability to form an insulating oxide film under anodic conditions, is a commonly used anode substrate.

Platinized Titanium Anode Specifications

Substrate: Titanium Wire/Rod, Titanium Mesh
Coating: Pure Platinum
Platinum Thickness: <10um
Allowable operating voltage: ≤12V
Mesh type: Expand mesh

Platinized Titanium Anode Applications

Platinized Titanium Anodes have a wide range of applications due to their unique properties, making them suitable for various industries and processes. Some of the key applications of Platinized Titanium Anodes include:

• Electroplating: Platinized Titanium Anodes are commonly used in electroplating processes for the deposition of metals onto a substrate. They provide excellent conductivity and stability, ensuring uniform and high-quality plating results.
• Cathodic Protection: Platinized Titanium Anodes are employed in cathodic protection systems to prevent corrosion of metal structures, such as pipelines, storage tanks, and reinforced concrete structures. They act as inert anodes, releasing electrons to protect the structures from corroding by reducing the likelihood of oxidation.
• Electrolysis: Platinized Titanium Anodes play a vital role in various electrolytic processes, such as the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide in the chloralkali industry and metal electrowinning processes.
• Water Treatment: These anodes are used in water treatment applications to oxidize contaminants and disinfect water. They help in removing impurities and pathogens, ensuring safe drinking water.
• Electrodialysis: Platinized Titanium Anodes are utilized in electrodialysis processes, which involve the selective separation of ions from a solution using an electric field.
• Electrochemical Synthesis: In organic and inorganic chemical synthesis, Platinized Titanium Anodes are employed to facilitate electrochemical reactions and produce specific compounds.
• Electrowinning: Platinized Titanium Anodes are used in metal electrowinning processes, where metals are extracted from their ores through electrolysis.
• Research and Laboratory: Platinized Titanium Anodes are utilized in various research and laboratory applications, such as in the development of new electrochemical processes and experiments.

Platinized Titanium Anode Advantages

• Effective, environment-friendly
• High current efficiency
• High anti-corrosion property & lasting working life
• Keep the operating voltage stably
• Small size & lightweight
• Recoatable & Repetitive titanium material

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