Electroconductive coatings on porous ceramic supports

The preparation of porous conductive coatings on porous ceramic supports for potential use in electrosynthesis, anodic decomposition of organic compounds and electrosorption units is described. The prepared conductive coatings on porous ceramic supports consisted either of carbon, gold or nickel, or a combination of carbon and gold. Carbon coatings were obtained by pyrolytic decomposition of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), gold was sputter coated and nickel coatings were formed by electroless plating. The permeability for water and electrical resistance of each coated support were measured and compared. Pyrolytic carbon was deposited throughout the support whereas the nickel and gold coatings were formed on the outer surface of the support. The resistance of a carbon coating could be regulated between 0.5 and 2 Omega cm(-1) of support while the permeability of the carbonized support was as high as 75% of the permeability of the unmodified support. The nickel and gold coatings had no significant effect on the permeability and could be prepared with a resistance of 0.25 and 1 Omega cm(-1) of support, respectively.