Electrode transfer printing method and electrode positioning jig

Abstract

Provided is an electrode transfer method that facilitates electrode positioning. Provided is an electrode transfer method for transferring an annular electrode 2 to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, the method comprising: a first auxiliary material setting step S1 for setting a shaft member 11 on an auxiliary material 4; an anode electrode positioning jig installation step (S2) in which the shaft member (11) is inserted through the anode electrode positioning jig (12); an anode electrode installation step (S3) in which an anode electrode (21) is installed; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step S4 in which a positioning jig 12 for an anode electrode is removed, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 is set; a cathode electrode positioning jig installation step (S5) in which the shaft member (11) is inserted through the cathode electrode positioning jig (13); a cathode electrode installation step (S6) in which a cathode electrode (22) is installed; a second auxiliary material setting step (S7) for removing the positioning jig (13) for the cathode electrode and setting the shaft member (11) on the auxiliary material (4); a shaft member removal step (S8) in which the shaft member (11) is removed; and a hot pressing step (S9) for heating and pressurizing the electrode (2) from the outside of the auxiliary material (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode transfer method and a positioning jig for an electrode. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, it has been known to use a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) in, for example, water electrolysis. The catalyst-coated membrane is obtained by disposing an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and transferring them (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] [Prior Art Documents]

[0004] (Patent Documents)

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-176300 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] When using a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) in water electrolysis or the like, it is sometimes configured in a cylindrical shape to boost the gas pressure. At this time, it is necessary to dispose the anode electrode and the cathode electrode with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween at corresponding positions. However, since it is configured by the naked eye, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately position them.

[0008] [Technical Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] (1) The present invention relates to an electrode transfer method for transferring an electrode (e.g., electrode 2) to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (e.g., solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3), wherein the electrode is composed of a ring-shaped anode electrode (e.g., anode electrode 21) and a cathode electrode (e.g., cathode electrode 22) having a through hole (e.g., through holes 21a, 22a) formed at the center, the electrode transfer method comprising: a first auxiliary material setting step (e.g., first auxiliary material setting step S1), in which an axis member (e.g., axis member 11) is inserted through an auxiliary material (e.g., auxiliary material 4) to set the auxiliary material; an anode electrode positioning jig setting step (e.g., anode electrode positioning jig setting step S2), in which the axis member is inserted through an anode electrode positioning jig (e.g., anode electrode positioning jig 12); an anode electrode setting step (e.g., anode electrode setting step S3), in which the anode electrode is set with the anode electrode positioning jig as the center; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step (e.g., solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step S4). Step S4), removing the anode electrode positioning jig, and setting the solid polymer electrolyte membrane on the anode electrode with the shaft member as the center; cathode electrode positioning jig setting step (for example, cathode electrode positioning jig setting step S5), inserting the shaft member through the cathode electrode positioning jig (for example, cathode electrode positioning jig 13) on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; cathode electrode setting step (for example, cathode electrode setting step S6), setting the cathode electrode with the cathode electrode positioning jig as the center; second auxiliary material setting step (for example, second auxiliary material setting step S7), removing the cathode electrode positioning jig, and setting the auxiliary material on the cathode electrode by inserting the shaft member through the auxiliary material; shaft member removal step (for example, shaft member removal step S8), pulling out the shaft member; and, hot pressing step (for example, hot pressing step S9), after the shaft member removal step, heating and pressurizing the auxiliary material from the outside through the electrode.

[0010] (2) It is preferable that the auxiliary material includes a cushioning material (for example, the cushioning material 41 ) and a mold release material (for example, the mold release material 42 ).

[0011] (3) The present invention relates to an electrode positioning jig (electrode positioning jig 1) used in the electrode transfer method described in (1) or (2) above, wherein the positioning jig includes the anode electrode positioning jig, the cathode electrode positioning jig and the shaft member, and the anode electrode positioning jig and the cathode electrode positioning jig have through holes (for example, through holes 12a, 13a) formed at the center thereof through which the shaft member can be concentrically inserted.

[0012] (4) Preferably, the thickness dimension of the positioning jig for the anode electrode is greater than the thickness dimension of the aforementioned anode electrode, and the thickness dimension of the positioning jig for the cathode electrode is greater than the thickness dimension of the aforementioned cathode electrode.

[0013] (Effects of the Invention)

[0014] According to the above (1), by using the positioning jigs for the anode electrode and the cathode electrode that are inserted through by the shaft member and are based on the inner circumference of the electrode, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the transfer positions of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode arranged with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween.

[0015] According to the above (2), by clamping the electrode with the auxiliary material, it is possible to easily apply the pressure applied to the electrode uniformly and protect the electrode.

[0016] According to the above (3), since the annular electrode can be aligned concentrically with the shaft member and then removed, high-precision alignment can be performed.

[0017] According to the above (4), since the positioning jig for the anode electrode is thicker than the anode electrode and the positioning jig for the cathode electrode is thicker than the cathode electrode, after the positioning jig for the anode electrode and the positioning jig for the cathode electrode are inserted into the through-holes of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, they are easy to remove. Therefore, positioning can be performed easily and efficiently. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 It is a developed view showing the positioning jig for the electrode of the present embodiment.

[0019] Figure 2A It is a diagram for explaining the first auxiliary material setting process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2B It is a diagram for explaining the positioning jig setting process and the anode electrode setting process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2C It is a diagram for explaining the solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2D It is a diagram for explaining the positioning jig setting process and the cathode electrode setting process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2E It is a diagram for explaining the second auxiliary material setting process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2F It is a diagram for explaining the shaft member removal process and the hot pressing process of the electrode transfer method of the present embodiment. Detailed Implementation Modes

[0025] The following describes the implementation modes of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As Figure 1 shown, the electrode transfer method of this implementation mode is carried out using a jig 1 for positioning the electrode (hereinafter also referred to as the positioning jig 1). The electrode transfer method is to dispose the electrode 2 and the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) 3 between auxiliary materials 4, and use the positioning jig 1 to determine the position of the electrode, while forming an electrolyte membrane and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The positioning jig 1 can be used when transferring the electrode 2 to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 to form an electrolyte membrane and a membrane electrode assembly, and its use is not particularly limited. For example, the electrode transfer method and the positioning jig 1 of this implementation mode can be used in the process of manufacturing a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) for applications such as water electrolysis or PEM pumps.

[0026] The electrode 2 is a catalyst layer composed of an anode electrode 21 and a cathode electrode 22, which are respectively formed with through holes 21a and 22a at the center, are coated on substrates 211 and 221, and are formed in a circular ring shape. For the anode electrode 21, a Ru (ruthenium)-based catalyst can be used, for example, and for the cathode electrode 22, a platinum catalyst can be used, for example. As the substrates 211 and 221, sheets made of Teflon (registered trademark), for example, can be cited.

[0027] The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 can be, for example, a membrane having a sulfonic acid group composed of perfluorosulfonic acid or the like. On the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, a through hole 3a for inserting the following shaft member 11 is formed. The through hole 3a has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 11 so that the shaft member 11 can be inserted.

[0028] The auxiliary materials 4 include, for example, a buffer material 41 and a release material 42.

[0029] The purpose of disposing the buffer material 41 is to make the voltage on the electrode 2 uniform. As the buffer material 41, a large-volume and well-breathable sheet member is preferably used, which can be, for example, Fwat Light (registered trademark).

[0030] The release material 42 is a sheet member for preventing the buffer material 41 from adhering to the electrode 2. The release material 42 can be a sheet coated with a release agent, which can be, for example, a sheet coated with a fluororesin. The release material 42 is disposed between the buffer material 41 and the electrode 2.

[0031] On the cushioning material 41 and the mold release material 42, through holes 41a and 42a are formed through which the following shaft member 11 is inserted. The through holes 41a and 42a have an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 11 so that the shaft member 11 can be inserted. Additionally, in Figure 1 Auxiliary material 4 is omitted.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, the positioning jig 1 has a shaft member 11, an anode electrode positioning jig 12, and a cathode electrode positioning jig 13 (refer to Figure 2D ), and is disposed at the center of the anode electrode 21 and the cathode electrode 22. The positioning jig 1 can be made of stainless steel respectively.

[0033] The shaft member 11 is a cylindrical member that can be inserted through the centers of the through holes 21a and 22a of the anode electrode 21 and the cathode electrode 22 and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, and is a so-called ejector pin.

[0034] As Figure 1 shown, the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is a cylindrical member having a through hole 12a formed at its center. The outer diameter of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the through hole 21a, such that it can be inserted through the through hole 21a of the anode electrode 21. The outer diameter of the through hole 12a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 11, such that the shaft member 11 can be inserted through the through hole 12a. The thickness dimension of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is larger than the thickness dimension of the anode electrode 21.

[0035] As Figure 1 shown, the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is a cylindrical member having a through hole 13a formed at its center. The outer diameter of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the through hole 22a, such that it can be inserted through the through hole 22a of the cathode electrode 22. The outer diameter of the through hole 13a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 11, such that the shaft member 11 can be inserted through the through hole 13a. The thickness dimension of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is larger than the thickness dimension of the anode electrode 21.

[0036] The anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 are arranged such that the shaft member 11 is concentrically inserted through the through holes 12a and 13a. The outer diameter or the thickness dimension of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 can be the same or different. In the present embodiment, comparing Figure 2B and Figure 2D , the outer diameter of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is formed to be smaller than that of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13, and the thickness of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is thicker than that of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13. The dimensions of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 are appropriately set according to the shapes of the through holes 12a and 13a of the electrode 2 and the thickness of the electrode 2.

[0037] The electrode transfer method using the positioning jig 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0038] As Figure 2A shown, a release material 42 is laid on the buffer material 41, and the shaft member 11 is inserted through the position determined as the center to set the auxiliary material 4 (the first auxiliary material setting step S1).

[0039] Next, as Figure 2B shown, the shaft member 11 is inserted through the through hole 12a of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 to set the anode electrode positioning jig 12 (the anode electrode positioning jig setting step S2).

[0040] Next, with the anode electrode positioning jig 12 as the center, the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is inserted into the through hole 21a of the anode electrode 21 to set the anode electrode 21 (the anode electrode setting step S3).

[0041] Next, as Figure 2C shown, the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is removed from the Figure 2B state. Then, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 is overlapped on the anode electrode 21, and the shaft member 11 is inserted into the through hole 3a of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 is set with the shaft member 11 as the center (the solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step S4).

[0042] Next, as Figure 2D shown, on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, the shaft member 11 is inserted through the through hole 13a of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 to set the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 (the cathode electrode positioning jig setting step S5).

[0043] Next, with the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 as the center, the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is inserted into the through hole 22a of the cathode electrode 22 to set the cathode electrode 22 (the cathode electrode setting step S6).

[0044] Next, as Figure 2E shown, the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is removed from the Figure 2D state. Then, on the cathode electrode 22, the shaft member 11 is inserted through the through holes 42a and 41a at the center of the release material 42 and the buffer material 41 to set the auxiliary material 4 (the second auxiliary material setting step S7).

[0045] Next, as Figure 2F shown, the shaft member 11 is removed (the shaft member removal step S8).

[0046] Then, after the shaft member removal step S8 , the auxiliary material 4 , the anode electrode 21 , the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 , the cathode electrode 22 , and the auxiliary material 4 are stacked and heated and pressed from the outside of the auxiliary material 4 through the electrode 2 (hot pressing step S9 ).

[0047] According to this embodiment, the following effects are achieved.

[0048] (1) An electrode transfer method for transferring an electrode 2 to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, wherein the electrode 2 is composed of a ring-shaped anode electrode 21 and a cathode electrode 22 with through holes 21a and 22a formed in the center, and the electrode transfer method comprises the following steps: a first auxiliary material setting step S1, in which the shaft member 11 is inserted through the auxiliary material 4 to set the auxiliary material 4; an anode electrode positioning jig setting step S2, in which the shaft member 11 is inserted through the anode electrode positioning jig 12; an anode electrode setting step S3, in which the anode electrode 21 is set with the anode electrode positioning jig 12 as the center; a solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step S4, in which the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is removed and the anode electrode is set. 21, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 is set on the shaft member 11 as the center; a cathode electrode positioning jig setting step S5, on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3, the shaft member 11 is inserted through the cathode electrode positioning jig 13; a cathode electrode setting step S6, a cathode electrode 22 is set with the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 as the center; a second auxiliary material setting step S7, the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is removed, and on the cathode electrode 22, the shaft member 11 is inserted through the auxiliary material 4 to set the auxiliary material 4; a shaft member removal step S8, the shaft member 11 is pulled out; and, a hot pressing step S9, after the shaft member removal step S8, the auxiliary material 4 is heated and pressurized from the outside through the electrode 2.

[0049] By using the anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 which are inserted through the shaft member 11 and based on the inner periphery of the electrode 2 , the accuracy of the transfer position of the anode electrode 21 and the cathode electrode 22 arranged across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 3 can be improved.

[0050] (2) According to the present embodiment, the auxiliary material 4 includes the cushioning material 41 and the release material 42 .

[0051] Since the electrode 2 is sandwiched by the auxiliary material 4 , it is possible to easily and evenly apply pressure to the electrode 2 , and the electrode 2 can be protected.

[0052] (3) According to the present embodiment, the positioning jig 1 for the electrode used in the electrode transfer method described in the above (1) or (2) includes an anode electrode positioning jig 12, a cathode electrode positioning jig 13, and a shaft member 11. The anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 are configured to form through holes 12a and 13a in the center through which the shaft member 11 can be inserted concentrically.

[0053] Since the annular electrode 2 can be aligned concentrically with the shaft member 11 and then the shaft member 11 is removed, high-precision alignment can be performed.

[0054] (4) According to the present embodiment, the thickness dimension of the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is configured to be greater than the thickness dimension of the anode electrode 21, and the thickness dimension of the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is configured to be greater than the thickness dimension of the cathode electrode 22.

[0055] Since the anode electrode positioning jig 12 is thicker than the anode electrode 21 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 is thicker than the cathode electrode 22, after the anode electrode positioning jig 12 and the cathode electrode positioning jig 13 are inserted into the through holes 21a and 22a of the anode electrode 21 and the cathode electrode 22, they are easy to remove. Therefore, positioning can be performed easily and efficiently.

[0056] Reference numerals

[0057] 1 Positioning jig

[0058] 2 Electrode

[0059] 3 Solid polymer electrolyte membrane

[0060] 4 Auxiliary material

[0061] 11 Shaft member

[0062] 12 Anode electrode positioning jig

[0063] 12a Through hole

[0064] 13 Cathode electrode positioning jig

[0065] 13a Through hole

[0066] 21 Anode electrode

[0067] 21a Through hole

[0068] 22 Cathode electrode

[0069] 22a Through hole

[0070] 41 Buffer material

[0071] 42 Release material

Claims

1. An electrode transfer method for transferring an electrode to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the electrode is composed of an annular anode electrode and a cathode electrode having a through hole formed in the center, and the electrode transfer method includes: A first auxiliary material setting step of inserting a shaft member through an auxiliary material to set the auxiliary material; An anode electrode positioning jig setting step of inserting the shaft member through an anode electrode positioning jig; An anode electrode setting step of setting the anode electrode with the anode electrode positioning jig as the center; A solid polymer electrolyte membrane setting step of removing the anode electrode positioning jig and setting the solid polymer electrolyte membrane with the shaft member as the center on the anode electrode; A cathode electrode positioning jig setting step of inserting the shaft member through a cathode electrode positioning jig on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; A cathode electrode setting step of setting the cathode electrode with the cathode electrode positioning jig as the center; A second auxiliary material setting step of removing the cathode electrode positioning jig and inserting the shaft member through the auxiliary material to set the auxiliary material on the cathode electrode; A shaft member removing step of pulling out the shaft member; and A hot pressing step of heating and pressing through the electrode from the outside of the auxiliary material after the shaft member removing step.

2. The electrode transfer method according to claim 1, wherein, The auxiliary material includes a buffer material and a release material.

3. A positioning jig for an electrode used in the electrode transfer method according to claim 1 or 2, The positioning jig for the electrode includes the anode electrode positioning jig, the cathode electrode positioning jig and the shaft member, The anode electrode positioning jig and the cathode electrode positioning jig are formed with through holes in the center through which the shaft member can be concentrically inserted.

4. The positioning jig for an electrode according to claim 3, wherein The thickness dimension of the anode electrode positioning jig is larger than the thickness dimension of the anode electrode, The thickness dimension of the cathode electrode positioning jig is larger than the thickness dimension of the cathode electrode.

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