Electrolysis using a single electrode

[uzi kiko]

Hello

Inspired by this video,


I wondered if it was possible to create a process of electrolysis in saltwater using a single electrode.
To my understanding (Please see the attached diagram), if a direct current passes through I2 (after the diode) a direct current must also pass through I1 (through the electrode). However, in a small experiment I did, based on this diagram, I was unable to produce electrolysis products

Does this theoretically seem possible to you?

Thanks a lot
Mosh

 

[DaveE]

Theoretically yes, as far as you've described it anyway. But there are a lot of other details to get right. For one, there must always be a 2nd electrode of some sort, although it could be disguised (like a metal tank wall, for example). Charges must flow from somewhere to somewhere else, those would be the electrodes.

Look at some of the "related threads" below. Electrolysis isn't as easy to do as it sounds.

 

[DaveE]

I guess I was assuming you wanted to breakdown water into Hydrogen and Oxygen. Of course there is also electrolysis in the sense of plating (moving ions through an electrolyte). That is much easier. For example moving Zinc ions from a Zinc electrode onto a Copper electrode is easy. However, the process may be slow with harvested energy because the current will be low.

 

[uzi kiko]

Thanks a lot!

you're absolutely right. In my experiment, I ignored the need for the current to eventually move through the water ...