CA2632073C - Method of manufacturing fuel cell with electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen-permeable membrane - Google Patents

Method of manufacturing fuel cell with electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen-permeable membrane Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2632073C
CA2632073C CA2632073A CA2632073A CA2632073C CA 2632073 C CA2632073 C CA 2632073C CA 2632073 A CA2632073 A CA 2632073A CA 2632073 A CA2632073 A CA 2632073A CA 2632073 C CA2632073 C CA 2632073C
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permeable membrane
hydrogen permeable
thermal treatment
hydrogen
fuel cell
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CA2632073A1 (en
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Satoshi Aoyama
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00Electrodes
    • H01M4/86Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/94Non-porous diffusion electrodes, e.g. palladium membranes, ion exchange membranes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D53/00Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/22Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by diffusion
    • B01D53/228Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by diffusion characterised by specific membranes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D67/00Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0081After-treatment of organic or inorganic membranes
    • B01D67/0083Thermal after-treatment
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D71/00Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/02Inorganic material
    • B01D71/022Metals
    • B01D71/0221Group 4 or 5 metals
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D71/00Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/02Inorganic material
    • B01D71/022Metals
    • B01D71/0223Group 8, 9 or 10 metals
    • B01D71/02231Palladium
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
    • C01B3/50Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
    • C01B3/501Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by diffusion
    • C01B3/503Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by diffusion characterised by membranes
    • C01B3/505Membranes containing palladium
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00Electrodes
    • H01M4/86Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8878Treatment steps after deposition of the catalytic active composition or after shaping of the electrode being free-standing body
    • H01M4/8882Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking
    • H01M4/8885Sintering or firing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00Electrodes
    • H01M4/86Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/90Selection of catalytic material
    • H01M4/9041Metals or alloys
    • H01M4/905Metals or alloys specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC
    • H01M4/9058Metals or alloys specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC of noble metals or noble-metal based alloys
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D2323/00Details relating to membrane preparation
    • B01D2323/08Specific temperatures applied
    • B01D2323/081Heating
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00Electrodes
    • H01M4/86Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M2004/8678Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells characterised by the polarity
    • H01M2004/8684Negative electrodes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2300/00Electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0017Non-aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0065Solid electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0068Solid electrolytes inorganic
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H01M8/124Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H01M8/124Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
    • H01M8/1246Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides
    • H01M8/126Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte the electrolyte consisting of oxides the electrolyte containing cerium oxide
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Inert Electrodes (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a given temperature higher than an actual operating temperature of the fuel cell, and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment. The hydrogen permeable membrane is composed of a polycrystalline metal.

Description

DESCRIPTION

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FUEL CELL WITH ELECTROLYTE LAYER FORMED ON A
HYDROGEN-PERMEABLE MEMBRANE

Technical Field This invention generally relates to a method of manufacturing a fuel cell.

Background Art One or more aspects of this invention generally relate to a method of manufacturing a fuel cell.
In general, a fuel cell is a device that obtains electrical power from fuel, hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cells are being widely developed as an energy supply system because fuel cells are environmentally superior and can achieve high energy efficiency.
There are some types of fuel cells including a solid electrolyte such as a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a solid-oxide fuel cell, and a hydrogen permeable membrane fuel cell (HMFC). Here, the hydrogen permeable membrane fuel cell has a dense hydrogen permeable membrane. The dense hydrogen permeable membrane is composed of a metal having hydrogen permeability, and acts as an anode. The hydrogen permeable membrane fuel cell has a structure in which a solid electrolyte having proton conductivity is deposited on the hydrogen permeable membrane. Some hydrogen provided to the hydrogen permeable membrane is converted into protons. The protons are conducted in the electrolyte having proton conductivity and react with oxygen provided to a cathode. Electrical power is thus generated.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-146337, for example, proposes a method of forming a proton-conductive-electrolyte layer on a substrate of dense metal having hydrogen permeability. According to the method, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the electrolyte layer.
However, it is possible that a boundary separation between the electrolyte layer and the substrate occurs because of an uneven surface of the substrate.
Various aspects of this invention have been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. One or more aspects of the invention provide a method of manufacturing a fuel cell in which a boundary separation between a solid electrolyte layer having proton conductivity and a metal substrate having hydrogen permeability is limited.

Printed: 20/11/2007 DESCPAMD JP200632478 Disclosure of the Invention In exemplary embodiments, a method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a hydrogen atmosphere at a given temperature higher than an actual operating temperature of the fuel cell for a given time and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment. The hydrogen permeable membrane is composed of a polycrystalline metal. The given time is a time so that a diffusion length calculated with the given time, the given temperature and a diffusion coefficient of the hydrogen permeable membrane is more than a diffusion length calculated with the diffusion coefficient, the actual operating temperature and an actual operating time of the fuel cell. In the method, the hydrogen permeable membrane of the crystalline metal is subjected to the thermal treatment in the hydrogen atmosphere at the given temperature higher than the actual operating temperature. After that, the electrolyte layer is formed on the hydrogen permeable membrane. In this case, the metal included in the hydrogen permeable membrane diffuses sufficiently. And a crystal grain is deformed sufficiently. It is therefore possible to restrain the deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane after the thermal treatment. Accordingly, it is possible to restrain the boundary separation between the hydrogen permeable membrane and the electrolyte layer caused by the deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane.
In another exemplary embodiments, a method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a hydrogen atmosphere and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment. The hydrogen permeable membrane is a polycrystalline metal composed of palladium or palladium alloy. In the method, the hydrogen permeable membrane of the crystalline metal is subjected to the thermal treatment in the hydrogen atmosphere. After that, the electrolyte layer is formed on the hydrogen permeable membrane. In this case, the metal included in the hydrogen permeable membrane diffuses sufficiently. And a crystal grain is deformed sufficiently. It is therefore possible to restrain the deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane after the thermal treatment. Accordingly, it is possible'to restrain the boundary separation between the hydrogen permeable membrane and the electrolyte layer caused by the deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane.
In the exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen permeable membrane may be subjected to the thermal treatment at a temperature higher than 200 degrees C.
The hydrogen permeable membrane may be subjected to the thermal treatment at a temperature higher than 600 4 CA 02632073 2008-05-28 AMENDED SHEET 15/10/2007' printed: 20/11 /2007 DESCPAMD JP200632478 degrees C. The hydrogen permeable membrane may be subjected to the thermal treatment for a given time. The given time may be a time so that a diffusion length calculated with the given time, a thermal treatment temperature and a diffusion coefficient of palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane is more than a diffusion length calculated with the diffusion coefficient, an actual operating temperature and an actual operating time of the fuel cell.
The electrolyte layer may be composed of a perovskite electrolyte or a solid acid electrolyte.

Effect of the Invention 5 CA 02632073 2008-05-28 AMENDED SHEET 15/10/2007`'' In accordance with the invention, a boundary separation between a hydrogen permeable membrane and an electrolyte layer caused by a deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane is restrained.

Brief Description of the Drawings Exemplary embodiments of one or more aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
FIG. I A through FIG. 1E illustrate a schematic view of a method of manufacturing a fuel cell in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C illustrate aspects of a surface of samples 1-1 and 1-2 after a thermal treatment;

FIG. 3A through FIG. 3D illustrate aspects of a surface of samples 2-1 through after a thermal treatment; and FIG 4A through FIG 4C illustrate a surface profile of each sample after a thermal treatment.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention FIG. 1 A through FIG. 1E illustrate a schematic view of a method of manufacturing a fuel cell 100 in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, a hydrogen permeable membrane 10 having a thickness of approximately 20 gm is provided. The hydrogen permeable membrane 10 in accordance with the embodiment is composed of a polycrystalline metal that is formed by rolling and has hydrogen permeability.
Palladium, vanadium, tantalum, zirconium, niobium, an alloy thereof or the like may be used as the polycrystalline metal having hydrogen permeability. In the embodiment, the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is a thin layer composed of a plurality of palladium crystal grain. The grain is referred to a crystal grain 11. An average diameter of the crystal grains 11 is approximately a few gm to a few tens of gm.
Next, as shown in FIG. IB, the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is subjected to a thermal treatment. In this case, each of the crystal grains 11 is deformed so that grain boundary free energy and surface free energy are reduced, because a metal included in the crystal grain 11 diffuses. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1 C, the surface of the crystal grain 11 is smoothed. And a grain boundary groove 12 is formed between each of the crystal grains 11. It is preferable that the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is subjected to the thermal treatment until each of the crystal grains 11 is no more sintered or recrystallized, because it is restrained that the crystal grain 11 is deformed by another thermal treatment after that.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1 D, an electrolyte layer 20 having proton conductivity is formed on the hydrogen permeable membrane 10. In this case, the electrolyte layer 20 fills the grain boundary groove 12 and covers the hydrogen permeable membrane 10. The electrolyte layer 20 may be composed of a proton-conductivity-material such as a perovskite proton-conductivity-material (BaCeO3 or the like) or a solid acid proton-conductivity-material (CsHSO4 or the like). The thickness of the electrolyte layer 20 may be approximately I
m. Next, as shown in FIG. IE, a cathode 30 is formed on the electrolyte layer 20. The fuel cell 100 is fabricated through the operations mentioned-above.

In the method of manufacturing the fuel cell in accordance with the embodiment, the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is subjected to the thermal treatment in advance, and each of the crystal grains 11 is deformed sufficiently. It is therefore possible to restrain the boundary separation between the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 and the electrolyte layer 20 caused by the deformation of the crystal grain 11, even if the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is heated by the power generation reaction or even if the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is heated when the electrolyte layer 20 is formed. A description will be given of details of thermal treatment temperature, thermal treatment time, and thermal treatment atmosphere.

In general, an average diffusion length X,,, of a metal atom included in a solid metal is shown as following Expression 1.
(Expression 1) Xm = 2 (D - t / 1t)o.' "t" in Expression 1 is time. "D" in Expression I is a diffusion coefficient and is shown as following Expression 2.
(Expression 2) D = Do = exp(-Q / RT) "R" in Expression 2 is a gas constant. "T" in Expression 2 is an absolute temperature. In a case where palladium is used, "Q" is 266kJ and "Do" is 0.0000205 m2/s. As shown in Expressions 1 and 2, the average diffusion length Xm is increased when the temperature T gets higher.

It is possible to calculate an average diffusion length XPd of palladium included in the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 during the operation of the fuel cell 100, if an actual operating time of the fuel cell 100 is assigned to "t" in Expression 1 and an actual operating temperature of the fuel cell 100 is assigned to "T" in Expression 2. Here, the actual operating temperature is the operating temperature of the fuel cell 100 and is, for example, approximately 200 degrees centigrade to 600 degrees centigrade. The actual operating time is an operating time of the fuel cell 100 supposed in advance and is, for example, approximately 5,000 hours to 5 100,000 hours. The palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 diffuses sufficiently so that each of the crystal grains 11 is no more sintered or recrystallized, if the fuel cell 100 is operated for the actual operating time.
On the other hand, it is possible to diffuse the palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane 10, if the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is subjected to the thermal treatment. In this case, it is possible to reduce the time of the thermal treatment to a large degree, if the thermal treatment temperature is set to be higher than the actual operating temperature.
Examples are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, it is possible to reduce the thermal treatment time to approximately I or 2 hours, if the thermal treatment temperature is increased to a temperature higher than the actual operating temperature by approximately 200 degrees centigrade. It is therefore possible to diffuse the palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 advantageously.

[Table 1]
(Actual operating temperature) x (Actual (Thermal treatment temperature) x (Thermal operating time) treatment time) (400 degrees C) x (50,000 hours) (600 degrees C) x (1 hour) (450 degrees C) x (50,000 hours) (700 degrees C) x (0.6 hours) (500 degrees C) x (50,000 hours) (750 degrees C) x (2 hours) It is thus possible to restrain the deformation of the crystal grain 11 if the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is subjected to the thermal treatment sufficiently in advance.
It is therefore preferable that the thermal treatment time and the thermal treatment temperature are set so that the diffusion length of the palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane 10 is more than a diffusion length in a case where the fuel cell 100 is operated at the actual operating temperature for the actual operating time. It is more preferable that the thermal treatment temperature is higher than the actual operating temperature from a viewpoint of reduction of cost, because the thermal treatment time is reduced to a large degree.

An atmosphere in the case of the thermal treatment is not limited. It is preferable that the atmosphere is vacuum of few tens of Pa or an inert gas atmosphere such as noble gas or nitrogen. The atmosphere is preferably hydrogen, because metal diffusion is facilitated by hydrogen diffusion. It is therefore possible to reduce the thermal treatment time. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the production cost of the fuel cell 100.
In a case where other hydrogen permeable polycrystalline metal except for palladium is used as the hydrogen permeable membrane 10, it is possible to obtain the advantage of the present invention if the thermal treatment temperature is set to be higher than the actual operating temperature and lower than a melting temperature of the hydrogen permeable membrane 10. Other hydrogen permeable membrane formed through any other process can be applied to this invention, although the hydrogen permeable membrane formed by rolling is used in the embodiment.
(First example) In a first example, hydrogen permeable membranes (samples 1-1 and 1-2) were subjected to a thermal treatment through the method in accordance with the embodiment mentioned above. And the effect was measured. Conditions of the thermal treatment are shown in Table 2. The sample 1-1 was subjected to the thermal treatment in a vacuum atmosphere of approximately few tens of Pa. The sample 1-2 was subjected to the thermal treatment in a 100 %
hydrogen atmosphere. The thermal treatment temperature was set to be 800 degrees centigrade and the thermal treatment time was set to be 5 hours in the case of both of the samples. In the example, a thin layer composed of palladium was used as the hydrogen permeable membrane.
[Table 2]
Thermal treatment Thermal treatment Atmosphere temperature time Sample 1-1 800 degrees C 5 hours Vacuum (few tens of Pa) Sample 1-2 800 degrees C 5 hours Hydrogen 100 %

(Analysis) Aspects of the surface of the samples 1-1 and 1-2 after the thermal treatment are shown in FIG. 2B and FIG 2C. The hydrogen permeable membrane before the thermal treatment is referred to a comparative sample. An aspect of the comparative sample is shown in FIG 2A.
As shown in FIG. 2A, a polishing scratch was formed on the surface of the hydrogen permeable membrane before the thermal treatment. And little grain boundary groove was formed.
However, as shown in FIG 2B and FIG 2C, the grain boundary groove was formed on the hydrogen permeable membrane after the thermal treatment. Therefore, the metal diffusion in the hydrogen permeable membrane was facilitated through the thermal treatment. And the surface of the hydrogen permeable membrane was smoothed compared to the hydrogen permeable membrane before the thermal treatment. In particular, the sample 1-2 was smoothed to a large degree. It is therefore preferable that the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment in the 100 % hydrogen atmosphere in order to facilitate the metal diffusion.
(Second example) In a second example, hydrogen permeable membranes (samples 2-1 through 2-3) were subjected to a thermal treatment through the method in accordance with the embodiment mentioned above. And the effect was measured. Conditions of the thermal treatment were shown in Table 3. As shown in Table 3, the thermal treatment temperature differs with respect to the samples in the example. The thermal treatment temperature was set to be 600 degrees centigrade with respect to the sample 2-1. The thermal treatment temperature was set to be 700 degrees centigrade with respect to the sample 2-2. The thermal treatment temperature was set to be 800 degrees centigrade with respect to the sample 2-3. The thermal treatment time was set to be 5 hours in any cases of the samples. In the example, a thin layer composed of palladium was used as the hydrogen permeable membrane.
[Table 3]

Thermal treatment Thermal treatment Atmosphere temperature time Sample 2-1 600 degrees C 5 hours Hydrogen 100 %
Sample 2-2 700 degrees C 5 hours Hydrogen 100 %
Sample 2-3 800 degrees C 5 hours Hydrogen 100 %
(Analysis) Aspects of the surface of the samples 2-1 through 2-3 after the thermal treatment are shown in FIG 3B through FIG 3D. The hydrogen permeable membrane before the thermal treatment is referred to a comparative sample. An aspect of the comparative sample is shown in FIG 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B through FIG 3D, the surface of each sample was smoothed and the grain boundary groove was formed after the thermal treatment. The surface was more smoothed and the grain boundary groove was formed more notably when the thermal treatment temperature got higher. Therefore, the metal diffusion in the hydrogen permeable membrane was facilitated by increasing the thermal treatment temperature. It is therefore preferable that the thermal treatment temperature is set to be higher in order to facilitate the metal diffusion.
FIG. 4A through FIG 4C illustrate a surface profile of each sample after the thermal treatment. The vertical axis of each graph indicates a height of the surface of the samples from a given reference depth. The horizontal axis of each graph indicates a position in a width direction of the measured range. As shown in FIG. 4A, little grain boundary groove was formed on the comparative sample. An average roughness Ra of the comparative sample was 24 nm. A maximum valley height Rmax of the comparative sample was 100 nm. Here, the average roughness Ra and the maximum valley height Rmax is a value calculated by a calculation method shown in JIS B0601.
On the other hand, the average roughness Ra and the maximum valley height Rmax of the sample 2-1 were approximately as same as those of the comparative sample.
However, a boundary groove was formed on the sample 2-1 as shown in FIG 4B. A
boundary groove was formed notably on the sample 2-3 as shown in FIG 4C. This is because the maximum valley height Rmax of the sample 2-3 was a large value, 137 nm. A
grain boundary step was approximately 0.1 m tall. And the surface of the sample 2-3 was smoothed. This is because the average roughness Ra of the sample 2-3 was a small value, 18 nm.
In particular, on the sample 2-3, the average roughness Ra in an area except for the grain boundary groove was approximately zero. Therefore, it is confirmed that the metal diffusion is facilitated when the thermal treatment temperature is increased, and that accordingly a grain boundary groove is formed notably and a surface is smoothed.
In accordance with the first example and the second example, the metal diffusion is facilitated when the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment. The deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane is therefore restrained when the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment sufficiently.
Accordingly, it is possible to restrain the boundary separation between the hydrogen permeable membrane and the electrolyte layer caused by the deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane, if the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment sufficiently and the electrolyte layer is formed on the hydrogen permeable membrane. In addition, it is confirmed that the atmosphere in the thermal treatment is a vacuum atmosphere or a 100 %
hydrogen atmosphere, as a result of the first example. Further, it is confirmed that the thermal treatment temperature is preferably set to be higher, as a result of the second example.

Claims (7)

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell comprising:
thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a hydrogen atmosphere at a given temperature higher than an actual operating temperature of 200°C
to 600°C of the fuel cell for a given time; and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment, wherein:
the hydrogen permeable membrane is composed of a polycrystalline metal; and the given time is a time so that a diffusion length calculated with the given time, the given temperature and a diffusion coefficient of the metal composing the hydrogen permeable membrane is more than a diffusion length calculated with the diffusion coefficient, the actual operating temperature and an actual operating time of the fuel cell.
2. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell comprising:
thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a hydrogen atmosphere, the hydrogen permeable membrane being a polycrystalline metal composed of palladium or palladium alloy; and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment at a temperature higher than 200 degrees C.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment at a temperature higher than 600 degrees C.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hydrogen permeable membrane is subjected to the thermal treatment for a given time.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the given time is a time so that a diffusion length calculated with the given time, a thermal treatment temperature and a diffusion coefficient of palladium in the hydrogen permeable membrane is more than a diffusion length calculated with the diffusion coefficient, an actual operating temperature of 200°C to 600°C and an actual operating time of the fuel cell.
7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrolyte layer is composed of a perovskite electrolyte or a solid acid electrolyte.
CA2632073A 2005-12-14 2006-12-06 Method of manufacturing fuel cell with electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen-permeable membrane Expired - Fee Related CA2632073C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2005-359741 2005-12-14
JP2005359741A JP5061456B2 (en) 2005-12-14 2005-12-14 Manufacturing method of fuel cell
PCT/JP2006/324783 WO2007069617A1 (en) 2005-12-14 2006-12-06 Method of manufacturing fuel cell with electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen-permeable membrane

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