How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell
This patent describes an electrochemical cell that uses cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, separated by a special membrane.
Original patent title: “Electrolysis cell for the conversion of cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to cupric chloride and hydrogen gas”
This patent describes an electrochemical cell that uses cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, separated by a special membrane. Granted to Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd AECL in 2014 with 23 claims and 3 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2029.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an electrochemical cell designed to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. It has two main sections: an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, separated by a cation exchange membrane (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). In the anode compartment, an anode sits in a solution called anolyte, which is cuprous chloride dissolved in hydrochloric acid (Claim 1). In the cathode compartment, a cathode with a special electrocatalyst (like platinum, Claim 14) is placed in a catholyte solution, which is just hydrochloric acid (Claim 1). When electricity is applied, the cell converts cuprous chloride into cupric chloride at the anode and produces hydrogen gas at the cathode (Claim 21). For example, this cell could be used to generate hydrogen for fuel while simultaneously regenerating a useful chemical.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover electrochemical cells that produce hydrogen without also producing cupric chloride from cuprous chloride (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover cells where the anolyte is not specifically cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover cells that use an anion exchange membrane instead of a cation exchange membrane (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover hydrogen production methods that do not use an electrochemical cell with distinct anode and cathode compartments (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 21).
- Does not cover cells where the cathode does not include an electrocatalyst (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
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 the specific combination of an anolyte containing cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid with a cation exchange membrane and an electrocatalyst-equipped cathode to efficiently produce both hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. This specific chemical pathway and cell design offer a way to regenerate chemicals while also generating hydrogen.
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
Hydrogen production for industrial use
Chemical regeneration processes
Potential component in advanced nuclear hydrogen production cycles
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for processes that need hydrogen gas, especially if they can also utilize or recycle cupric chloride. Hydrogen is a clean fuel and a key industrial chemical. The ability to produce it efficiently from a specific chemical cycle, like the copper-chlorine cycle, is valuable for energy production and chemical manufacturing. AECL, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is known for nuclear technology, suggesting this could be part of a larger energy system, potentially for nuclear hydrogen production.
Filed
August 26, 2009
Granted
January 28, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) is a key player in nuclear technology and research, including advanced energy systems and hydrogen production. Companies involved in hydrogen production, such as electrolyzer manufacturers like Plug Power, Nel Hydrogen, and Siemens Energy, are constantly researching more efficient and integrated methods. Chemical companies that use or produce cupric chloride might also be interested in such regeneration processes.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing research and development in efficient hydrogen production, particularly within integrated chemical cycles. While not a standalone "game-changer," it provides a specific method that could reduce energy consumption or improve material efficiency in certain industrial settings. It could enable more sustainable practices for industries requiring both hydrogen and specific copper compounds.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an electrochemical cell designed to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. It has two main sections: an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, separated by a cation exchange membrane (Claim 1). In the anode compartment, an anode sits in a solution called anolyte, which is cuprous chloride dissolved in hydrochloric acid (Claim 1). In the cathode compartment, a cathode with a special electrocatalyst (like platinum, Claim 14) is placed in a catholyte solution, which is just hydrochloric acid (Claim 1). When electricity is applied, the cell converts cuprous chloride into cupric chloride at the anode and produces hydrogen gas at the cathode (Claim 21). For example, this cell could be used to generate hydrogen for fuel while simultaneously regenerating a useful chemical.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of an anolyte containing cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid with a cation exchange membrane and an electrocatalyst-equipped cathode to efficiently produce both hydrogen gas and cupric chloride. This specific chemical pathway and cell design offer a way to regenerate chemicals while also generating hydrogen.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover electrochemical cells that produce hydrogen without also producing cupric chloride from cuprous chloride (Claim 1).
- Does not cover cells where the anolyte is not specifically cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid (Claim 1).
- Does not cover cells that use an anion exchange membrane instead of a cation exchange membrane (Claim 1).
- Does not cover hydrogen production methods that do not use an electrochemical cell with distinct anode and cathode compartments (Claim 1, 21).
- Does not cover cells where the cathode does not include an electrocatalyst (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$55K – $175K
Midpoint $109K · 3.1 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
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Stolberg, L. (2014). How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell (U.S. Patent No. 8,636,880). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8636880/electrolysis-cell-for-the-conversion-of-cuprous-chloride-in-hydrochloric-acid-to
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell cover?
This patent describes an electrochemical cell that uses cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, separated by a special membrane.
Who owns patent US 8636880?
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd AECL owns this patent, granted in 2014.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 26, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8636880 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for processes that need hydrogen gas, especially if they can also utilize or recycle cupric chloride. Hydrogen is a clean fuel and a key industrial chemical. The ability to produce it efficiently from a specific chemical cycle, like the copper-chlorine cycle, is valuable for energy production and chemical manufacturing. AECL, the assignee, is known for nuclear technology, suggesting this could be part of a larger energy system, potentially for nuclear hydrogen production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover electrochemical cells that produce hydrogen without also producing cupric chloride from cuprous chloride (Claim 1).
Patent monitoring