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Searching for sulfuric acid resistant electrode material

I'm looking for a material to use as a current collector. The requirements are: resistant to 6.5M (~64% w/w) sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and inexpensive. It will be operating at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Right now I am using gold plated 316 stainless, but think that there is a problem with the plating process because I have corrosion. I have considered looking at Molybdenum and sputter coating some sort of plastic.

Thanks in advanced for your help. I'm not in the plating or metal business, so I don't know a whole lot. Sorry if this has been answered before, but I couldn't find anything during the search.

Derek Wells
research - Augusta, GA, USA
2005

I'm thinking carbon electrodes though I'm not sure you would call them inexpensive.

Peter Van de Luecht
- Melbourne, Vic, Australia
2005

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2005

Peter van der Luecht is right: Carbon Electrodes are O.K.
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Carbon is also called 'Graphite'

Search for Graphite Electrodes

There are several forms of 'carbon'

1) coal, pitch ; coalmines
2) soot from the chimneys
3) remnants of burned wood, peat
4) refined carbon graphite diamond
5) There is also 'glassy carbon' which is no good conductor
6) There is also 'pyrolytic carbon'
See also
'MATERIALS ENGINEERING' American Magazine.

Anthony F. van Belle
Highways International Specialty Metals R&D; - Bunschoten, Netherlands

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Besides graphite, you may want to consider platinised titanium - it isn't cheap but can be purchased from selected metal supply companies (e.g., Goodfellows, based just outside Cambridge, UK). Alternatively you may want to try lead - you don not say what you are doing, so it may just be useful.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2006

Pure Titanium. will take it. Cheap too go to any welding supply store and ask for a couple 1/8th inch or what ever PURE titanium fill tig fill rods.

Rob Reger
- Van, Canada
2006