Oxidizing device with increased oxidizing performance and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An oxidizing device and an oxidizing method for oxidizing a carbon-containing component in a gaseous mixture containing H2O and the carbon-containing component are disclosed having a proton conductive body and an electrode member placed on the proton conductive body. The electrode member has an anode electrode and a cathode electrode held in contact with each other and the proton conductive body has electric conductivity of 0.01 Scm−1 or more at a temperature of 400° C. or less. The anode electrode separates a proton (H+) from H2O at a boundary portion between the anode electrode and the proton conductive body to facilitate a reaction to introduce the proton into the proton conductive body. The cathode electrode facilitates a reduction reaction in the presence of the proton supplied from the proton conductive body at a boundary portion between the cathode electrode and the proton conductive body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-85238, filed on Mar. 28, 2008, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to oxidizing devices or more particularly, to an oxidizing device for oxidizing a carbon-containing component and a method of oxidizing the carbon-containing component.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In the related art, attempts have heretofore been made to provide an exhaust gas purifying system as a catalyst converter system for purifying exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine such as an automotive engine or the like. The exhaust gas purifying system incorporates therein an exhaust gas purifying catalyst body, located in an exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine, which has a carrier (catalyst carrier) carrying thereon catalyst components. This c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an oxidizing device that can use H2O in a gaseous mixture containing H2O and a carbon-containing component as a reactant, resulting in increased oxidizing performance. The device includes a proton conductive body with an electric conductivity of 0.01 Scm−1 or more at a temperature of 400° C or less. The device also includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode in contact with the proton conductive body, allowing for the separation of protons from H2O and the introduction of the protons into the proton conductive body. The cathode electrode facilitates a reduction reaction with the carbon-containing component, while the anode electrode facilitates the separation of protons from H2O. The device can generate active oxygen species that react with the carbon-containing component to oxidize it. The high electric conductivity of the proton conductive body allows for the autonomous taking in of protons separated from H2O, while the captured protons can freely move about in the electrodes. The device can be used to oxidize the carbon-containing component in the gaseous mixture.

Problems solved by technology

However, with such a technology proposed in the related art described above, an active oxygen species can be produced merely from a cathode electrode with a resultant disadvantage in which the catalyst has inadequate oxidizing capability for carbon containing substances like carbon or CH4 that are chemically stable.

Further, the active oxygen species reacts rapidly with reduction gases such as H2 and HC under the same atmosphere, causing an issue to arise with a difficulty of producing the active oxygen species.

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