JP2009064624A - Inspection method and inspection device of ion conductive electrolyte membrane - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the inspection method and the inspection device of an ion conductive electrolyte membrane. <P>SOLUTION: The inspection device practicing the inspection method for inspecting the hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane having a light modulation thin film and a hydrogen electrode joined to both surfaces thereof has a container for forming a space on a hydrogen electrode side and an electric circuit electrically connected between the light modulation thin film and the hydrogen electrode through a switch. The inspection device inspects the presence or absence of a defective part by the change of the optical reflectance of the light modulation thin film caused by hydrogenation by supplying hydrogen gas to the space on the hydrogen electrode side in a switch-off sate and hydrogenating the light modulation thin film with hydrogen gas leaked through the defective part of the electrolyte membrane, and also inspects the uniformity of the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane by the uniformity of the change of the optical reflectance of the light modulation thin film caused by hydrogenation by supplying hydrogen gas to the space on the hydrogen electrode side in a switch-on state, transmitting hydrogen ions produced by ionization from the hydrogen electrode to the electrolyte membrane, and hydrogenating the light modulating thin film. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for a hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane.

  A hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane (sometimes referred to as “electrolyte membrane”) is used, for example, in a membrane electrode assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and the membrane electrode assembly is an electrolyte membrane. It is configured by joining a hydrogen electrode (fuel electrode) to one surface of a solid polymer film and an air electrode (oxygen electrode) to the other surface. In such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, hydrogen is supplied to the hydrogen electrode, and oxygen (or air) is supplied to the air electrode. Hydrogen is ionized at the hydrogen electrode to generate hydrogen ions and electrons. Hydrogen ions pass through the electrolyte membrane and reach the air electrode. The electrons reach the air electrode via an electrical load connected between the hydrogen electrode and the air electrode. At the air electrode supplied with electrons, hydrogen ions and oxygen react to generate water (water vapor).

In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, if the electrolyte membrane has a defective portion such as a pinhole or a crack, gas leakage occurs in the defective portion and power generation capacity is reduced. When the hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on either side of the electrolyte membrane, the defective portion causes leakage of the hydrogen gas on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane. Therefore, the concentration of the leaked hydrogen gas is measured with a hydrogen sensor. Therefore, it can be detected that a defective portion exists. As a hydrogen sensor in such measurement, for example, a hydrogen absorbing alloy can be used (for example, Patent Document 1). In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the maximum output current when the membrane electrode assembly is electrically connected in series to increase the output voltage is determined by the membrane electrode assembly having the lowest hydrogen ion (proton) conduction. Therefore, it is desirable that membrane electrode assemblies connected in series have hydrogen ion conduction as uniform as possible. Therefore, a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly that realizes uniform hydrogen ion conductivity has been developed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-233097 A JP 2006-252938 A

  However, even if the leaked hydrogen gas diffused in the atmosphere is detected, the sensitivity of detecting the defective portion of the electrolyte membrane decreases due to the diffusion of the leaked hydrogen gas, and the position of the defective portion cannot be specified. Even if a method for producing an electrolyte membrane having uniform hydrogen ion conductivity is used, the quality of the electrolyte membrane is guaranteed if the manufactured electrolyte membrane is not inspected for uniform hydrogen ion conductivity. Can not do it. In addition, these techniques are not techniques for inspecting defects in the electrolyte membrane and uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity in a continuous process. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ion conductive electrolyte membrane inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of inspecting the position of a defective portion of the electrolyte membrane and the uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity in a continuous process.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to the present invention (Claim 1), a light control thin film is provided on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, a hydrogen electrode is provided on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, Each is joined, and an electric circuit is connected between the light control thin film and the hydrogen electrode via a switch. When hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side with the switch turned off, if there is a defect in the electrolyte membrane that causes gas leakage, the hydrogen gas passes from the space on the hydrogen electrode side through the defect to the electrolyte membrane. Leaks to one side of Then, the leaked hydrogen gas hydrogenates the light control thin film, and the optical reflectance of the light control thin film changes. With this optical reflectance, the presence or absence of a defective portion of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected (defect portion inspection step).

  When hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side with the switch turned on, the hydrogen gas is ionized by the hydrogen electrode. Electrons generated by ionization are supplied from the hydrogen electrode to the light control thin film via an electric circuit, and hydrogen ions generated by ionization are transmitted from the hydrogen electrode through the electrolyte film to the light control thin film and reach the light control thin film. Hydrogenate the light control thin film with hydrogen ions. Then, the light control thin film is hydrogenated and the optical reflectance is changed. This change in optical reflectivity depends on the amount of hydrogen ions that have passed through the electrolyte membrane and reached the light control thin film. Therefore, the difference in the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane is a variation in the optical reflectivity of the light control thin film. It is detected as (unevenness), and the quality of the hydrogen ion conductivity uniformity of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected (ion conductivity inspection step). In the inspection method, the defect inspection and the ion conductivity inspection can be performed in a continuous process by operating the switch, and the hydrogen ion conductivity inspection can be performed at room temperature.

  According to claim 2, if the electric circuit is constituted by a power circuit, the hydrogen electrode is electrically connected to the positive voltage electrode of the power circuit, and the dimming thin film is electrically connected to the negative voltage electrode of the power circuit, Electrons generated at the hydrogen electrode can flow into the positive voltage electrode of the power supply circuit and be further supplied from the negative voltage electrode to the light control thin film, and the hydrogen ions generated at the hydrogen electrode can be electrically repulsively into the electrolyte membrane. It can be made to flow and further supplied to the light control thin film. Thus, the uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected better.

  If the light control thin film has a catalyst layer and a reaction layer, the reaction layer is electrically connected to the negative voltage electrode of the power supply circuit, and the catalyst layer is in contact with the electrolyte membrane, Due to the catalytic action of the layer, the reaction layer is hydrogenated with hydrogen gas that has passed through the electrolyte membrane, and the optical reflectance of the light control thin film changes. If the hydrogen electrode has a hydrogen diffusion film and an anode electrode, and the anode electrode is electrically connected to the positive voltage electrode of the power supply circuit and is in contact with the electrolyte membrane, the hydrogen diffusion film Can diffuse hydrogen gas and efficiently generate hydrogen ions at the anode electrode. The light control thin film is formed of a magnesium / nickel alloy, a magnesium / titanium alloy, a magnesium / niobium alloy, a magnesium / vanadium alloy or magnesium, and a catalyst film made of palladium or platinum. If the catalyst film is provided, the light control thin film changes its optical reflectance rapidly and reversibly when hydrogenated.

If the atmospheric pressure in the space on the hydrogen electrode side can be maintained higher than the atmospheric pressure in the space on the light control thin film side as described in claim 6, hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen electrode joined to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane. It can reach the electrolyte membrane, and the amount of leaked hydrogen gas at the defective portion can be increased (the presence or absence of the defective portion of the electrolyte membrane can be quickly inspected).
An inspection apparatus for an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to the present invention (Claim 7) is an apparatus for inspecting a hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane in which a light control thin film is bonded to one surface and a hydrogen electrode is bonded to the other surface. And it has the container which forms the space by the side of a hydrogen electrode, and the electric circuit electrically connected between a light control thin film and a hydrogen electrode via a switch. Therefore, if hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side when the switch is off, the presence or absence of a defective portion of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected as in the inspection method of claim 1 (defective portion inspection). In addition, if hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side when the switch is on, the uniformity of the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected as in the inspection method of claim 1 (ion conduction). Sex test). The inspection apparatus can inspect the position of the defective portion of the electrolyte membrane and the uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity in a continuous process by operating a switch, and the hydrogen ion conductivity inspection can be performed at room temperature.

  In the eighth aspect, similarly to the second aspect, the uniformity of the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane can be inspected better. According to the ninth aspect, since the atmospheric pressure in the space on the hydrogen electrode side is high, the presence or absence of a defective portion of the electrolyte membrane can be quickly inspected similarly to the sixth aspect.

  As described above, according to the inspection method and the inspection apparatus for the ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to the present invention, based on the change in the optical reflectance of the light control thin film joined to the electrolyte membrane, the defect portion of the electrolyte membrane and the hydrogen ion Conductivity uniformity can be inspected extremely quickly and with high sensitivity. In addition, the inspection method and the inspection apparatus can inspect the defective portion of the electrolyte membrane and the uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity in a continuous process by operating the switch, and thus can reduce the inspection cost.

  Hereinafter, an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present embodiment relates to an inspection method and an inspection apparatus for a hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane in which a light control thin film is bonded to one surface and a hydrogen electrode is bonded to the other surface. Here, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example when a light control thin film and a hydrogen electrode are joined to an electrolyte membrane to be inspected, and an electric circuit (power supply circuit) is connected, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a membrane and the like, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example when the electrolyte membrane and the like are accommodated in an inspection apparatus for performing the ion conductive electrolyte membrane inspection method according to the present invention.

(Electrolyte membrane)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrolyte membrane 10 to be inspected is bonded to one surface 10a with a light control thin film 11 having the same planar shape as the electrolyte membrane 10, and to the other surface 10b. A hydrogen electrode 14 having the same planar shape as the membrane 10 is joined. Here, the light control thin film 11 has a catalyst film 12 and a reaction film 13, and the catalyst film 12 is in contact with one surface 10 a of the electrolyte membrane 10. The hydrogen electrode 14 includes a hydrogen diffusion film 15 and an anode electrode 16, and the anode electrode 16 is in contact with the other surface 10 b of the electrolyte membrane 10. Thus, the light control thin film 11 and the light control thin film 11 are opposed to each other with the electrolyte film 10 interposed therebetween. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the positive voltage electrode 17p of the power supply circuit 17 is connected to the anode electrode 16 of the hydrogen electrode 14, and the negative voltage electrode 17n is connected to the reaction film 13 of the light control thin film 11 through the switch S. The That is, when the switch S is turned on, the power supply circuit 17 forms an electric circuit that takes out electrons from the anode electrode 16 and moves them to the reaction film 13, and biases the reaction film 13 to a negative potential with respect to the anode electrode 16. (An electric field is generated between the reaction film 13 and the anode 16).

  For the electrolyte membrane 10, for example, a perfluorosulfonic acid group polymer membrane or a Nafion membrane which is a solid polymer membrane is used. The reaction film 13 included in the light control thin film 11 is made of, for example, MgNix (0 ≦ x <0.6), or made of magnesium / titanium alloy, magnesium / niobium alloy, magnesium / vanadium alloy, or magnesium. The catalyst film 12 is made of, for example, palladium or platinum, and is formed on the surface of the reaction film 13 by coating or the like, and has a thickness of 1 nm to 100 nm. When the light control thin film 11 is exposed to an atmosphere having a hydrogen concentration of about 100 ppm to about 1% or more, the reaction film 13 is rapidly and reversibly hydrogenated in a few seconds to 10 seconds, for example, and the optical reflectance (hereinafter simply referred to as “light reflectivity”). There is a visible change in “sometimes indicated as“ reflectance ”” (the reaction film 13 has a high reflectance when not hydrogenated, and the reflectance decreases when hydrogenated). The hydrogen diffusion film 15 included in the hydrogen electrode 14 is made of, for example, carbon fiber such as carbon cloth or carbon paper, or a porous resin, a porous ceramic, a porous metal (foamed metal), or the like. The anode electrode 16 is made of, for example, a hydrogen ion catalyst film such as platinum. If the hydrogen electrode 14 forms part of the membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell together with the electrolyte membrane 10, the hydrogen ion conductivity of the membrane electrode assembly is improved in a state where the hydrogen electrode 14 is joined to the electrolyte membrane 10. Can be inspected.

(Inspection equipment)
The ion conductive electrolyte membrane inspection device 30 includes a container 20, a power supply circuit 17, and a switch S that form a first space (a space on the hydrogen electrode side) 21 shown in FIG. The power supply circuit 17 is electrically connected to the light control thin film 11 and the hydrogen electrode via the switch S. When the container 20 accommodates the electrolyte membrane 10 to which the light control thin film 11 is bonded, the container 20 forms a first space on the hydrogen electrode 14 side and forms a second space on the light control thin film 11 side. Of course, both spaces are blocked by the electrolyte membrane 10 or the like (the electrolyte membrane 10 in which the light control thin film 11 and the hydrogen electrode 14 are joined is sandwiched by a frame (not shown) around the inside of the container 20). To be attached). The first space 21, a hydrogen gas supply port 21a for supplying hydrogen gas H _2, the second space 22 has an air supply port 22a for supplying air (or oxygen). Incidentally 21b in FIG. 3 is a recovery port for recovering the unreacted hydrogen gas H _2, also 22b is a discharge port for discharging the steam generated in the dimmer film 11 unreacted air (oxygen) . A window 24 for viewing the light control thin film 11 is provided on the peripheral wall 23 of the second space 22 (a glass 25 is attached to the window 24 to shield the inside and the outside of the container 20). . Preferably, the air pressure in the first space 21 is maintained at a pressure higher than the air pressure in the second space 22 by the pump (atmospheric pressure adjusting means) 26. The air pressure adjusting means may be of any configuration as long as it has a function of maintaining the air pressure in the first space 21 higher than the air pressure in the second space 22.

(Defect inspection)
The defect inspection (defect inspection step) of the electrolyte membrane is as follows. With the switch S turned off, for example, hydrogen gas H ₂ pressurized by the pump 26 is supplied to the first space 21, and air is supplied to the second space 22 by, for example, a pump (not shown). (FIG. 3). In this state, when the electrolyte membrane 10 has no defect such as a pinhole, the hydrogen gas H ₂ supplied to the first space 21 is blocked by the electrolyte membrane 10 and cannot touch the light control thin film 11. . Therefore, the light control thin film 11 is not hydrogenated, and the reflectance of the light control thin film 11 does not change (when the surface 11a of the light control thin film 11 is observed, the light control thin film 11 has a uniform high reflectance. Looks like a mirror). When the electrolyte membrane 10 has a crack 10c (defect portion), as shown in FIG. 4, the hydrogen gas H ₂ passes through the hydrogen electrode 14, passes through the crack 10c from the other surface 10b of the electrolyte membrane 10, and passes through the electrolyte membrane. 10 leaks to one surface 10a. Then, the reflectance of the portion 11c of the light control thin film 11 in contact with the crack 10c changes rapidly according to the amount of the leaked hydrogen gas H ₂ (the reflectivity decreases and can be visually observed as spots of the light control thin film 11). . Thus, the presence / absence of a defective portion that causes hydrogen gas leakage in the light control thin film 11, the position of the defective portion, and the shape of the defective portion can be quickly inspected visually.

(Ion conductivity inspection process)
The ion conductivity test (ion conductivity test process) of the electrolyte membrane is as follows. With the switch S turned on, for example, hydrogen gas H ₂ pressurized by the pump 26 is supplied to the first space 21, and air is supplied to the second space 22 by, for example, a pump (not shown). (FIG. 3). In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the hydrogen gas H ₂ supplied to the first space 21 is diffused by the hydrogen diffusion film 15 of the hydrogen electrode 14 and reaches the anode electrode 16. At the anode electrode 16, the hydrogen gas H ₂ is separated into hydrogen ions H + and electrons e. Hydrogen ions H + permeate the electrolyte membrane 10 and reach the catalyst membrane 12 by the electric repulsive force due to the positive voltage of the power supply circuit 17 and the electric attractive force of the reaction membrane 13 biased to a negative potential with respect to the anode electrode 16. (Arrow C). On the other hand, the electrons e reach the reaction film 13 of the light control thin film 11 from the positive voltage electrode 17p of the power supply circuit 17 through the negative voltage electrode 17n, and further toward the catalyst film 12 (arrows A and B). Thus the hydrogen ion H + passes through the electrolyte membrane 10, in the vicinity of the interface between the electrolyte membrane 10 and the catalyst layer 12, the hydrogen gas H ₂ once combine with electrons e. The hydrogen gas H ₂ thus generated reacts with the reaction film 13 by the action of the catalyst film 12 (to become hydrogen molecules H), and reversibly hydrogenates the reaction film 13 (the light control thin film 11 is hydrogenated). It changes reversibly from a mirror surface state to a transparent state according to the number of ions H +). In this test, the switch S is be turned on after supplying the hydrogen gas H2 into the first space 21, or may be turned on before the supply of the hydrogen gas H _2. The electronic circuit 17 only needs to promote the permeation of hydrogen ions H + through the electrolyte membrane 10.

  If the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane 10 is uniform in any region, the amount of hydrogen ions H + reaching the catalyst membrane 12 is equal in any region of the one surface 10a of the electrolyte membrane 10. Here, the reflectivity of the light control thin film 11 changes rapidly and reversibly according to the amount of hydrogen ions H + that have passed through the electrolyte film 10, so that the light control can be performed if the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte film 10 is uniform. The reflectance of the thin film 11 changes uniformly and rapidly. That is, when the light control thin film 11 is visually observed, the hydrogen ion conductivity in the electrolyte membrane 10 is uniform in any region of the electrolyte membrane 10 when the reflectance changes equally in the entire region of the surface 11 a of the light control thin film 11. It can be judged that there is.

  When the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane 10 is non-uniform, the change in reflectance is smaller in the region of the light control thin film 11 in contact with the region where the hydrogen ion conductivity is low than in other regions. That is, it is possible to determine that visible spots appear in the reflectance of the light control thin film 11 and the hydrogen ion conductivity is non-uniform. If the electrolyte membrane 10 has a local defect of hydrogen ion conductivity, the reflectivity of the light control thin film 11 in contact with the defect region is different from that of other regions, so that the local defect of hydrogen ion conductivity is also directly and quickly. Can be inspected.

The defect inspection and the ion conductivity inspection may be preceded by any inspection, but it is preferable to perform the ion conductivity inspection on the electrolyte membrane 10 that has passed the defect inspection. This is because the electrolyte membrane 10 having no defect portion can be subjected to ion conductivity inspection immediately after the defect portion inspection because the reaction film 13 is not hydrogenated in the defect portion inspection. If the hydrogen ion conductivity inspection is preceded, the reaction film 13 of the electrolyte membrane 10 is hydrogenated by performing the hydrogen ion conductivity inspection. Therefore, prior to the defect inspection, the hydrogen gas H to the first space 21 is hydrogenated. ₂ is stopped, air or the like is supplied to the second space, and the reaction membrane 13 of the electrolyte membrane 10 is returned to the state before hydrogenation.

By the way, the joining of the light control thin film 11 and the one surface 10a of the electrolyte membrane 10 does not mean a complete contact state in which no gap is formed between the two membranes. This is because, even when a slight gap occurs when the two films are joined, in the inspection of the defect portion, the hydrogen gas H ₂ leaked through the crack 10c can hydrogenate the thin film layer 13 immediately adjacent to the crack 10c. (If the pump 26 is used, the hydrogen gas H ₂ supplied to the first space 21 is pressurized and easily passes through the hydrogen electrode 14, so the defect portion is inspected more quickly and with high sensitivity. Can do). In the hydrogen ion conductivity test, the hydrogen ions H + generated at the anode 16 due to the action of the electric field generated between the thin film layer 13 and the anode 16 are transmitted through the electrolyte membrane 10 and further into the light control thin film 11. It is because it goes straight ahead.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning, it can deform | transform suitably and can be implemented. For example, the electrolyte membrane is not limited to the flat plate shape of the embodiment, and may be another planar shape. Even in the case of a cylindrical electrolyte membrane, a detection film may be joined to the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, and hydrogen gas may be supplied to the space on the inner peripheral surface side of the cylinder. Also, if the reflectance of the light control thin film is converted into an electrical signal by a television camera or the like instead of visual observation, the change in the reflectance is detected by the video processing device, and the hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane can be inspected quickly. Can do.

It is a figure which shows the example of schematic structure when a light control thin film and a hydrogen electrode are joined to the electrolyte membrane used as test object, and an electric circuit (power supply circuit) is connected. It is a perspective view of the electrolyte membrane etc. which are shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic structural example when accommodating an electrolyte membrane etc. in the test | inspection apparatus of the ion conductive electrolyte membrane concerning this invention. It is a figure which illustrates typically the inspection of the defective part of an electrolyte membrane. It is a figure which illustrates typically hydrogen ion conductivity of an electrolyte membrane.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrolyte membrane 10a One side of electrolyte membrane 10b The other side of electrolyte membrane 10c Crack (defect part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Light control thin film 11c The part of the light control thin film which touches the defect part of an electrolyte film 12 Catalyst film 13 Reaction film 14 Hydrogen electrode 15 Hydrogen diffusion film 16 Anode electrode 17 Power supply circuit (electric circuit)
17p Positive voltage electrode of power circuit 17n Negative voltage electrode of power circuit 21 First space H Hydrogen molecule H + Hydrogen ion H ₂ Hydrogen gas

Claims (9)

An inspection method for an ion conductive electrolyte membrane,
A dimming thin film is bonded to one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and an air electrode is bonded to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane.
An electrical circuit is connected via a switch between the light control thin film and the hydrogen electrode,
When the switch is turned off, hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side, and when there is a defect portion that causes gas leakage in the electrolyte membrane, the hydrogen gas is supplied to the hydrogen electrode side through the defect portion. The electrolyte is leaked from the space to one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and the dimming thin film is hydrogenated with the leaked hydrogen gas, and the electrolyte reflects the change in optical reflectance of the dimming thin film generated by the hydrogenation. Inspecting the presence or absence of the defective portion of the film;
When the switch is on, hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side, ionized by the hydrogen electrode, and electrons generated by the ionization are supplied from the hydrogen electrode to the light control thin film via the electric circuit. In addition, hydrogen ions generated by the ionization are transmitted from the hydrogen electrode through the electrolyte membrane and supplied to the light control thin film, and the light control thin film is hydrogenated by the hydrogen ions that have reached the light control thin film, A method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane, comprising the step of inspecting the uniformity of hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane based on the uniformity of the change in optical reflectance of the light control thin film caused by hydrogenation .   The electric circuit is a power supply circuit, the hydrogen electrode is electrically connected to a positive voltage electrode of the power supply circuit, and the dimming thin film is electrically connected to a negative voltage electrode of the power supply circuit. The method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to claim 1. The light control thin film has a catalyst layer and a reaction layer,
The reaction layer is electrically connected to a negative voltage electrode of the power supply circuit;
The method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to claim 2, wherein the catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane hydrogenates the reaction layer with hydrogen ions that permeate the electrolyte membrane.   The ion according to claim 2, wherein the hydrogen electrode has a hydrogen diffusion film and an anode electrode, and the anode electrode is electrically connected to a positive voltage electrode of the power supply circuit and is in contact with the electrolyte membrane. Conductive electrolyte membrane inspection method.   The reaction film is a reaction film formed of magnesium / nickel alloy, magnesium / titanium alloy, magnesium / niobium alloy, magnesium / vanadium alloy or magnesium, and the catalyst film is a catalyst film formed of palladium or platinum. The method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to claim 3.   2. The method for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the space on the hydrogen electrode side is maintained higher than the pressure in the space on the light control thin film side. An inspection apparatus for a hydrogen ion conductive electrolyte membrane having a light control thin film on one surface and a hydrogen electrode on the other surface,
A container forming a space on the hydrogen electrode side, and an electric circuit electrically connected via a switch between the light control thin film and the hydrogen electrode,
When there is a defective portion that supplies hydrogen gas to the space on the hydrogen electrode side in a state where the switch is off and causes leakage of gas in the electrolyte membrane, the hydrogen gas is passed through the defective portion to the other side of the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte is caused to leak from one surface to one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and the dimming thin film is hydrogenated with the leaked hydrogen gas, and the electrolyte reflects the change in optical reflectance of the dimming thin film generated by the hydrogenation. Inspecting the presence or absence of the defect in the film,
In a state where the switch is on, hydrogen gas is supplied to the space on the hydrogen electrode side, the hydrogen gas is ionized by the hydrogen electrode, and electrons generated by the ionization are dimmed from the hydrogen electrode via the electric circuit. In addition to supplying to the thin film, hydrogen ions generated by the ionization are transmitted from the hydrogen electrode through the electrolyte membrane to the dimming thin film, and the dimming thin film is hydrogenated by the hydrogen ions that have reached the dimming thin film. And inspecting the uniformity of the hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane according to the uniformity of the optical reflectivity change of the light control thin film generated by the hydrogenation. apparatus.   The electrical circuit is a power supply circuit, a positive voltage electrode of the power supply circuit is electrically connected to the hydrogen electrode, and a negative voltage electrode of the power supply circuit is electrically connected to the dimming thin film. The ion conductive electrolyte membrane inspection apparatus according to claim 7.   9. The apparatus for inspecting an ion conductive electrolyte membrane according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising pressure adjusting means for maintaining a pressure in the space on the hydrogen electrode side higher than a pressure in the space on the light control thin film side. Characteristic ion conductive electrolyte membrane inspection device.

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