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Fuel electrode of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell

a fuel cell and solid polymer technology, applied in the direction of active material electrodes, cell components, electrochemical generators, etc., can solve the problem of increasing the potential of the fuel electrode, and achieve the effect of maintaining performance and reducing density

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-02-22
TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL IND +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a fuel electrode with a multilayered structure that prevents the reduction of performance during fuel shortage. The fuel electrode has a layer for preferentially promoting the electrolysis reaction of water during fuel shortage and another layer that reduces the influence of water on the other layer that is taking charge of the fuel cell reaction. The water decomposition layer contains a water repellent resin and a catalyst for promoting the electrolysis reaction of water. The use of a water repellent resin avoids the occupancy of holes in the layer with water and promotes the electrolysis reaction of water. The catalysts for composing the water decomposition layer include precious metals, such as platinum, ruthenium, iridium, and silver, and the use of alloy catalysts further enhances the activity and stability of the catalyst. The ratio of the catalyst to the water repellent resin for composing the water decomposition layer is preferably from 4:1 to 1:4.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, the creation of the fuel shortage increases the potential of the fuel electrode.

Method used

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  • Fuel electrode of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
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  • Fuel electrode of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell

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first embodiment

[0038] In the present embodiment, the fuel electrode corresponding to (a) in FIG. 1 was produced. First, 1 g of fine powders of the resin prepared by spray-drying a 5% solution of the above described ion exchange resin and 2 g of the above described platinum-ruthenium catalyst were added to 25 mL of an aqueous solution of 1-propanol, and they were mixed for 50 minutes with a ball mill, preparing a catalyst paste. Next, the catalyst paste was applied by printing on the surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane (Nafion 112) such that the loading of platinum is 0.2 mg / cm2 to form the reaction layer.

[0039] On the other hand for the water decomposition layer, 1 g of the above described fine powders of the water repellent resin and 1.7 g of the above described platinum catalyst were added to 25 mL of an aqueous solution of 1-propanol, and they were mixed for 50 minutes with a ball mill, preparing a catalyst paste. Next, the catalyst paste was applied by printing on the surface of a diffu...

second embodiment

[0041] In the present embodiment, the fuel electrode corresponding to (b) in FIG. 1 was produced. The reaction layer was produced in a manner similar to First Embodiment. On the other hand, an ion exchange resin was further added to the water decomposition layer in the present invention. Specifically, 1 g of fine powders of the ion exchange resin was further added when producing the catalyst paste for the water decomposition layer, other processes being similar to First Embodiment. The produced reaction layer and water decomposition layer were bonded to form the fuel electrode by a method similar to First Embodiment.

third embodiment

[0042] In the present embodiment, the fuel electrode corresponding to (c) in FIG. 1 was produced. A water repellent resin was further added to the reaction layer of this embodiment. Specifically, 1 g of fine powders of the water repellent resin was further added when producing the catalyst paste for the reaction layer, other processes being similar to First Embodiment. On the other hand, the water decomposition layer was produced in a manner similar to First Embodiment. The produced reaction layer and water decomposition layer were bonded to form the fuel electrode by a method similar to First Embodiment.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel electrode of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell for advancing a fuel cell reaction to oxidize the fuel introduced through a diffusion layer, comprising at least one reaction layer which is in contact with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and advances the fuel cell reaction and at least one water decomposition layer which is in contact with the diffusion layer and electrolyzes the water in the fuel electrode. The layer taking charge of the fuel cell reaction is protected by providing the fuel electrode having a multilayer structure and providing the layer for preferentially performing the electrolysis of the water contained in the fuel or the like. This results in a fuel electrode in which the reduction of the electrode performance will not easily occur even when fuel shortage may be created.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of non-provisional U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 464,486, filed Jun. 19, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a fuel electrode of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel electrode of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the reduction of the electrode performance is difficult to occur even in low fuel conditions caused by an interruption of fuel supply or the like. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Fuel cells have high expectations for a next-generation power generation system. In particular, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a solid polymer electrolyte as an electrolyte is promising as a power supply for electric vehicles because it operates at relatively low temperatures compared with other types of fuel cells such as a phosphoric acid fuel cel...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01M8/18H01M8/10H01M4/94H01M4/88H01M4/86H01M4/90H01M4/92H01M8/04
CPCH01M4/8605H01M4/861H01M4/8615H01M4/8657H01M4/8807H01M4/881H01M4/8828H01M4/92H01M4/926H01M8/04171H01M8/04238H01M8/1004H01M2004/8684Y02E60/50H01M4/86
Inventor TADA, TOMOYUKIINOUE, MASAHIKO
Owner TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL IND
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