Cell and cell stack device

Abstract

This cell comprises a support, a first electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode. The support is internally provided with a flow path that extends in a first direction, and the support has a first surface, a second surface that is on the reverse side of the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces that connect the first surface and the second surface to each other. The first electrode is on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces. The solid electrolyte layer covers the first electrode. The second electrode is on the solid electrolyte layer. The second electrode has a first end and a second end that is separated from the first end by a boundary part which extends in the first direction.

Description

Cell and cell stack equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to cells and cell stack devices.

[0002] A cylindrical cell is known in which carbon monoxide and water vapor are supplied to a pair of electrodes, respectively, to generate hydrogen.

[0003] US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0372635

[0004] A cell according to one aspect of the embodiment includes a support, a first electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode. The support has a flow path extending in a first direction therein and has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface. The first electrode is on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces. A solid electrolyte layer covers the first electrode. A second electrode is on the solid electrolyte layer. The second electrode has a first end and a second end separated from the first end by a boundary extending along the first direction.

[0005] A cell according to one aspect of the embodiment includes a support, a first electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode. The support has a flow path extending in a first direction therein and has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface. The first electrode includes a first component and is on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces. The solid electrolyte layer includes the first component and covers the first electrode. The second electrode is on the solid electrolyte layer. The first electrode and the solid electrolyte layer have a third end and a fourth end separated from the third end. Between the third end and the fourth end, there is further provided a seal portion including the first component, hermetically contacting the third end and the fourth end, and extending along the first direction.

[0006] Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cell according to an embodiment. Fig. 1B is a side view of an example of a cell according to an embodiment, seen from the first member side of a second electrode. Fig. 1C is a side view of an example of a cell according to an embodiment, seen from the second member side of a second electrode. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cell stack device according to an embodiment.

[0007] The above-described cells leave room for improvement, for example, in terms of reliability during manufacturing and / or in actual use.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to provide a cell and a cell stack device that can improve reliability.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a cell and a cell stack device disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] It should also be noted that the drawings are schematic and that the dimensional relationships and ratios of elements may differ from reality. Furthermore, the drawings may contain parts whose dimensional relationships and ratios differ from one another.

[0011] [Embodiment] <Cell Configuration> Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cell according to an embodiment. Fig. 1B is a side view of an example of a cell according to an embodiment, seen from the first member side of the second electrode. Fig. 1C is a side view of an example of a cell according to an embodiment, seen from the second member side of the second electrode. Note that Figs. 1A to 1C show enlarged views of portions of each configuration of the cell. The cell stack device may include a cell stack having a plurality of cells.

[0012] 1A to 1C, the cell 1 is a hollow, flat, elongated plate. As shown in Fig. 1B, the shape of the entire cell 1 as viewed from the side may be, for example, 5 cm to 50 cm in length in the length direction L and may be a rectangle with a length in the width direction W perpendicular to the length direction L of, for example, 1 cm to 10 cm. The thickness of the entire cell 1 in the thickness direction T may be, for example, 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1A, the cell 1 includes a support 2 and an element portion 3. The support 2 has a first surface f1 and a second surface f2 opposite the first surface f1. The support 2 also has a pair of side surfaces f3 and f4 connecting the first surface f1 and the second surface f2. The outer shape of the support 2 is, for example, columnar. Hereinafter, the first surface f1, the second surface f2, and the side surfaces f3 and f4 may be referred to as the peripheral surfaces of the support 2.

[0014] The first surface f1 and the second surface f2 may be flat. The pair of side surfaces f3 and f4 may be arc-shaped curved surfaces protruding in the width direction W from both ends of the first surface f1 and the second surface f2, which are substantially flat.

[0015] The element section 3 is provided on the support 2. The element section 3 has a first electrode 5, a solid electrolyte layer 6, and a second electrode 7.

[0016] The support 2 has flow paths 2a therein that extend in a length direction L, which is the first direction. A fluid flows through the flow paths 2a. The example of the support 2 shown in FIG. 1A has six flow paths 2a. The support 2 is gas permeable and allows the first gas flowing through the flow paths 2a to pass through to the first electrode 5. The support 2 may be electrically conductive.

[0017] The first electrode 5 is positioned so as to cover the peripheral surface of the support 2. The solid electrolyte layer 6 is positioned so as to cover the first electrode 5.

[0018] The cell 1 has a separation portion 8 on the circumferential surface of the support 2 where the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 are not located. In other words, the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 are separated along the circumferential direction of the support 2. This makes it possible to relieve stress in the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6, making it less likely for cracks to occur in the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6. It is sufficient to have at least one separation portion 8.

[0019] The cell 1 may have two separation portions 8. In this embodiment, the separation portion 8 has separation portions 8a and 8b on the first surface f1 of the support 2. The first electrode 5 has an electrode 5a located between the separation portions 8a and 8b. The solid electrolyte layer 6 has a solid electrolyte layer 6a located between the separation portions 8a and 8b. One of the separation portions 8a and 8b may be located on the second surface f2.

[0020] The second electrode 7 has second electrodes 7a and 7b located at both ends in the thickness direction T of the cell 1. The second electrode 7a has first ends 7a1 and 7a2 located at both ends in the width direction W. The second electrode 7b has second ends 7b1 and 7b2 located at both ends in the width direction W.

[0021] The outer surface of the solid electrolyte layer 6 facing the second electrode 7 may have a boundary portion 60 where the second electrode 7 is not located. The boundary portion 60 extends along the longitudinal direction L and separates the second electrode 7 a from the second electrode 7 b.

[0022] In other words, the second electrodes 7 a, 7 b have a first end and a second end separated from the first end by a boundary extending along the first direction (length direction L). This makes it possible to relieve stress in the second electrode 7, making it less likely for cracks to occur in the second electrode 7.

[0023] The cell 1 may have two or more borders 60. As shown in Fig. 1A, the border 60 may have two borders 60a and 60b. The border 60a is located between the first end 7a1 and the second end 7b1. The border 60b is located between the first end 7a2 and the second end 7b2.

[0024] The second electrode 7 may also have two or more portions separated by two or more boundaries 60. As shown in Figure 1A, the second electrode 7 may have second electrodes 7a and 7b.

[0025] The first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 may have end faces e1 to e4. The end face e1 is located at one end of the electrode 5a and the solid electrolyte layer 6a in the width direction W. The end face e2 is located at the other end of the electrode 5a and the solid electrolyte layer 6a in the width direction W.

[0026] The end face e3 is located opposite the end face e1 of the electrode 5a and the solid electrolyte layer 6a across the separation portion 8a, and the end face e4 is located opposite the end face e2 of the electrode 5a and the solid electrolyte layer 6a across the separation portion 8b.

[0027] That is, the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 have an end face e1 and an end face e3 separated from the end face e1. The first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 also have an end face e2 and an end face e4 separated from the end face e2. In other words, the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 have a third end and a fourth end separated from the third end.

[0028] The second electrode 7a may be provided at a position corresponding to the first surface f1. The second electrode 7b may be provided at a position corresponding to the second surface f2. In other words, the second electrodes 7a and 7b may be positioned to face the first surface f1 and / or the second surface f2. This makes it even less likely for cracks to occur in the second electrode 7 compared to when the second electrode 7 is positioned to face the side surfaces f3 and f4, thereby improving the reliability of the cell 1.

[0029] The material of the support 2 includes, for example, an iron group metal component and an inorganic oxide. The iron group metal component may be, for example, Ni (nickel) and / or NiO. The inorganic oxide may be, for example, a specific rare earth element oxide. The rare earth element oxide may include, for example, one or more rare earth elements selected from Sc, Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, and Yb.

[0030] The first electrode 5 includes, for example, Ni or NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The first electrode 5 may include Ni or NiO and a material selected from the group consisting of YSZ, gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC or CGO), samaria-doped ceria (SDC), scandia-stabilized zirconia (SSZ), lanthanum strontium gallate magnesite (LSGM), and combinations thereof.

[0031] The solid electrolyte layer 6 has oxide ion conductivity and electronic conductivity. The solid electrolyte layer 6 may include an electronically conducting phase including, for example, doped lanthanum chromite, an electronically conducting metal, or a combination thereof. The solid electrolyte layer 6 may include an ionically conducting phase including a material selected from gadolinium-doped ceria, samarium-doped ceria, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), lanthanum strontium gallate magnesite (LSGM), scandia-stabilized zirconia (SSZ), scandinium- and cerium-doped zirconia, and combinations thereof. The doped lanthanum chromite may include strontium-doped chromium lanthanum, iron-doped chromium lanthanum, strontium- and iron-doped lanthanum chromite, lanthanum calcium chromite, or a combination thereof. The electronically conducting metal may include Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Pt, Rh, or a combination thereof.

[0032] The first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 may contain a first component described below.

[0033] The second electrode 7 includes, for example, Ni or NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The second electrode 7 may include Ni or NiO and a material selected from the group consisting of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), ceria gadolinium oxide (CGO), samaria-doped ceria (SDC), scandia-stabilized zirconia (SSZ), lanthanum strontium gallate magnesite (LSGM), and combinations thereof.

[0034] A seal portion 9 connecting the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 may be located in the separation portion 8. The seal portion 9 extends along the first direction (length direction L). The seal portion 9 may be located between the end face e1 and the end face e3. The seal portion 9 may also be located between the end face e2 and the end face e4. In other words, the cell 1 may have the seal portion 9 between the third end and the fourth end. The seal portion 9 may be in airtight contact with the third end and the fourth end.

[0035] The seal portion 9 may contain, for example, a first component. The first component may contain, for example, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). This can improve the adhesive strength between the first electrode 5 and the solid electrolyte layer 6 and the support 2. Furthermore, when the first electrode 5, the solid electrolyte layer 6, and the seal portion 9 all contain the first component, the molar concentration of the first component contained in the seal portion 9 may be different from or the same as the molar concentration of the first component contained in the first electrode 5 and / or the solid electrolyte layer 6. The seal portion 9 may contain multiple first components. Furthermore, the seal portion 9 may contain a component other than the first component.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1B , the sealing portion 9 may extend to both ends in the longitudinal direction L where the separation portion 8 is located. The second electrode 7a may be located so as to be in contact with the sealing portion 9. This can further improve the adhesive strength between the second electrode 7 and the support 2. The sealing portion 9 may be located so as to extend from the surface of the solid electrolyte layer 6 toward the second electrode 7a, or may be flush with the surface of the solid electrolyte layer 6. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the second electrode 7a is in contact with the sealing portions 9 located on both of the separation portions 8a and 8b, but it may also be in contact with the sealing portion 9 located on only one of the separation portions 8a and 8b.

[0037] The cell 1 generates hydrogen by a water-gas shift reaction between a first gas supplied to the first electrode 5 and a second gas supplied to the second electrode 7. The first gas may be, for example, carbon monoxide (CO). The second gas may be, for example, water vapor (H ２ The cell 1 converts carbon monoxide (CO) supplied to the first electrode 5 into carbon dioxide (CO ２ ) is generated, and the water vapor (H ２ O) to hydrogen (H ２ ) to generate the

[0038] <Configuration of Cell Stack Device> Next, a cell stack device according to this embodiment using the above-described cell 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cell stack device according to this embodiment.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, the cell stack device 10 includes a cell stack 15 having a plurality of cells 1 arranged (stacked) in the thickness direction T of the cells 1 (see Figure 1A), a first manifold 11, a second manifold 12, an inlet flow path 13, and an outlet flow path 14.

[0040] In the cell stack 15 , one end of the plurality of cells 1 in the length direction L (see FIG. 1B ) is fixed to the first manifold 11 , and the other end is fixed to the second manifold 12 .

[0041] The first manifold 11 is connected to an inflow passage 13. A second gas flows into the inflow passage 13. The second gas may be, for example, water vapor (H ２ O) that flows in from the inflow passage 13. ２ O) is supplied from one end of the cell 1 to the flow channel 2 a (see FIG. 1A ) via the first manifold 11 .

[0042] The second manifold 12 is connected to an outlet channel 14. Hydrogen discharged from the other end of the cell 1 flows into the outlet channel 14 via the second manifold 12.

[0043] As described above, the first manifold 11 is supplied with water vapor (H ２ When supplying a second gas containing carbon monoxide (CO), it is sufficient to supply a first gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) to the outer periphery of the cell stack device 10. Note that, in the process in which the first gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) flows around the outer periphery of the cell stack device 10, carbon dioxide (CO ２ ) is generated. A first gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) is supplied to the first manifold 11, and water vapor (H ２ O) may be supplied.

[0044] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the first electrode 5 and the second electrode 7 of the cell 1 may be interchanged, and the first gas and the second gas supplied to the cell 1 may be interchanged.

[0045] In one embodiment, (1) a cell includes: a support having a flow path therein extending in a first direction, the support having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface; a first electrode on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces; a solid electrolyte layer covering the first electrode; and a second electrode on the solid electrolyte layer, wherein the second electrode has a first end and a second end separated from the first end by a boundary portion extending along the first direction.

[0046] (2) In the cell of (1) above, two or more boundaries may be provided, and the second electrode may have two or more portions separated by the two or more boundaries.

[0047] Also, (3) in the cell of (2) above, the first surface and the second surface may be flat, and the two or more portions of the second electrode may have a first portion at least partially on the first surface, and a second portion at least partially on the second surface and separated from the first portion by the two or more boundary portions.

[0048] In one embodiment, (4) a cell includes: a support having a flow path therein extending in a first direction, the support having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface; a first electrode containing a first component and located on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces; a solid electrolyte layer containing the first component and covering the first electrode; and a second electrode located on the solid electrolyte layer, wherein the first electrode and the solid electrolyte layer have a third end and a fourth end separated from the third end, and a seal portion containing the first component, in airtight contact with the third end and the fourth end, and extending along the first direction, is further provided between the third end and the fourth end.

[0049] Also, (5) in the cell of (4) above, the second electrode may be in contact with the seal portion.

[0050] In one embodiment, (6) a cell stack device has a cell stack including the cell according to any one of (1) to (5) above.

[0051] The disclosed embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Indeed, the above-described embodiments may be embodied in various forms. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be omitted, substituted, or modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

[0052] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 cell 2 support 2a flow path 3 element portion 5 first electrode 6 solid electrolyte layer 7 second electrode 8 separation portion 9 seal portion 10 cell stack device 11 first manifold 12 second manifold 13 inflow flow path 14 outflow flow path 60 boundary portion

Claims

1. A cell comprising: a support having an internal flow path extending in a first direction, the support having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface; a first electrode on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces; a solid electrolyte layer covering the first electrode; and a second electrode on the solid electrolyte layer, the second electrode having a first end and a second end separated from the first end by a boundary portion extending along the first direction.

2. The cell according to claim 1, comprising two or more of said boundaries, and wherein said second electrode has two or more portions separated by said two or more boundaries.

3. The cell described in claim 2, wherein the first surface and the second surface are flat, and the two or more portions of the second electrode include a first portion having at least a portion on the first surface, and a second portion having at least a portion on the second surface and separated from the first portion by the two or more boundaries.

4. A cell comprising: a support having an internal flow path extending in a first direction, the support having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pair of side surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface; a first electrode containing a first component and located on the first surface, the second surface, and the pair of side surfaces; a solid electrolyte layer containing the first component and covering the first electrode; and a second electrode located on the solid electrolyte layer, wherein the first electrode and the solid electrolyte layer have a third end and a fourth end separated from the third end, and a seal portion between the third end and the fourth end further contains the first component, is in air-tight contact with the third end and the fourth end, and extends along the first direction.

5. The cell according to claim 4, wherein the second electrode is in contact with the seal portion.

6. A cell stack device having a cell stack including the cell according to any one of claims 1 to 5.