Sodium salt-splitting performance of a novel ceramic-polymer composite cation-selective membrane

• Published in: Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2002, Vol.149 (1), p.D21-D26
• Main Authors: CORMIER, L. M, MA, F, BAH, S. T, GUETRE, S, MEUNIER, M, PALEOLOGOU, M, YELON, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0013-4651; 1945-7111
• DOI: 10.1149/1.1427078

The salt splitting performance of an electrolysis cell incorporating a novel composite membrane consisting of a thin film of an amorphous ceramic with NASICON composition (Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12, x = 0-3) deposited on commercial cation-selective polymeric membranes was evaluated. The effect of ceramic film thickness and deposition technique on the base current efficiency (BCE) for the production of sodium hydroxide from sodium sulphate was investigated. It was found that, when full coverage of the polymeric substrate was achieved, the ceramic film improved the salt-splitting performance of the polymeric membrane, even when localised surface defects were present. The study showed that the BCE of the electrolysis cell was the same whether the cation-selective composite membrane used was formed by pulsed laser deposition or by sputtering. Operating the cell above room temperature, and at a high anolyte concentration, increased the base current efficiency for NaOH production. 14 refs.