How to Make Big Electrodes for Splitting Water
This patent describes a simple, energy-saving way to create large, efficient catalyst electrodes using a mix of iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds through an electrical plating process.
Original patent title: “Method for Preparing Large-area Catalyst Electrode”
This patent describes a simple, energy-saving way to create large, efficient catalyst electrodes using a mix of iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds through an electrical plating process. Owned by National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology NCSIST with 11 claims and 21 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2040.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a method for creating a "large-area catalyst electrode" that helps split water into hydrogen and oxygen. First, you mix specific metal compounds like iron sulfate, cobalt chloride, and nickel nitrate in a liquid solvent such as water or ethanol (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Then, you place a negative electrode (cathode) and a positive electrode (anode) into this metal solution (Claim 1). Using a "two-electrode method," electricity is passed through the solution at a constant voltage (0.1V to 1V) or constant current (0.1A to 1A) for 1 to 20 minutes (Claim 9, 10). This process, called "cathodic electrochemical deposition," causes the metal compounds to form a coating on the cathode, which then becomes the finished catalyst electrode (Claim 1). For example, a graphite cathode could be coated with a nickel-cobalt-iron catalyst from a water-based solution.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover catalyst electrodes made without using all three specified metals: iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds.
- Does not cover deposition methods other than "cathodic electrochemical deposition" (e.g., spraying, vacuum deposition).
- Does not cover systems that use more than two electrodes during the deposition process.
- Does not cover deposition processes that do not maintain a constant voltage or constant current.
- Does not cover electrodes where the anode's area is smaller than the cathode's area.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining specific iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds with a straightforward, energy-efficient "cathodic electrochemical deposition" method to reliably produce large-area catalysts with "good dual-function water electrolysis catalytic property."
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production
Fuel cells
Industrial chemical reactors
Electrochemical energy storage devices
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Efficient and large-scale water electrolysis is crucial for producing green hydrogen, a clean energy source. This patent aims to simplify the manufacturing of "large-area catalyst electrodes" which are key components in electrolyzers. By making the process "simple and energy-saving," it could help reduce the cost and increase the availability of these critical materials for clean energy technologies.
Filed
October 22, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a research and development organization in Taiwan. Companies involved in green hydrogen production, such as Plug Power, Nel Hydrogen, and Siemens Energy, are actively developing and improving electrolyzer technology, which would benefit from efficient catalyst manufacturing methods.
Market impact
This patent addresses a key challenge in the emerging green hydrogen market: the cost and efficiency of producing catalysts for water electrolyzers. If widely adopted, such a "simple and energy-saving" method could lower manufacturing costs for electrolyzer components, potentially accelerating the deployment of green hydrogen infrastructure and making clean energy more accessible.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a method for creating a "large-area catalyst electrode" that helps split water into hydrogen and oxygen. First, you mix specific metal compounds like iron sulfate, cobalt chloride, and nickel nitrate in a liquid solvent such as water or ethanol (Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Then, you place a negative electrode (cathode) and a positive electrode (anode) into this metal solution (Claim 1). Using a "two-electrode method," electricity is passed through the solution at a constant voltage (0.1V to 1V) or constant current (0.1A to 1A) for 1 to 20 minutes (Claim 9, 10). This process, called "cathodic electrochemical deposition," causes the metal compounds to form a coating on the cathode, which then becomes the finished catalyst electrode (Claim 1). For example, a graphite cathode could be coated with a nickel-cobalt-iron catalyst from a water-based solution.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining specific iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds with a straightforward, energy-efficient "cathodic electrochemical deposition" method to reliably produce large-area catalysts with "good dual-function water electrolysis catalytic property."
What it does not cover
- Does not cover catalyst electrodes made without using all three specified metals: iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds.
- Does not cover deposition methods other than "cathodic electrochemical deposition" (e.g., spraying, vacuum deposition).
- Does not cover systems that use more than two electrodes during the deposition process.
- Does not cover deposition processes that do not maintain a constant voltage or constant current.
- Does not cover electrodes where the anode's area is smaller than the cathode's area.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
27/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$216K – $691K
Midpoint $432K · 14.2 yr remaining · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
11 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lai, K., Lu, C., & Hao, C. How to Make Big Electrodes for Splitting Water (U.S. Patent No. 20,210,123,152). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20210123152/method-for-preparing-large-area-catalyst-electrode
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US20210123152"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Energy & Clean Tech
US RE49155 · 2022 · Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells
US 11436484 · 2022 · Nvidia Corp
Nvidia's Method for Training Self-Driving Car AI in Simulations
US 11840398 · 2023 · Titan Trailers Inc
How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers
US 2708656 · 1955
How the First Nuclear Reactor Works
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Big Electrodes for Splitting Water cover?
This patent describes a simple, energy-saving way to create large, efficient catalyst electrodes using a mix of iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds through an electrical plating process.
Who owns patent US 20210123152?
This patent is owned by National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology NCSIST.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 22, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20210123152 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 21 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Efficient and large-scale water electrolysis is crucial for producing green hydrogen, a clean energy source. This patent aims to simplify the manufacturing of "large-area catalyst electrodes" which are key components in electrolyzers. By making the process "simple and energy-saving," it could help reduce the cost and increase the availability of these critical materials for clean energy technologies.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover catalyst electrodes made without using all three specified metals: iron, cobalt, and nickel compounds.
Patent monitoring