JP2009087876A - Single-chamber fuel cell and single-chamber fuel cell laminate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a single-chamber fuel cell with improved performance. <P>SOLUTION: The single-chamber fuel cell is provided with an electrolyte layer, and a first electrode layer as well as a second electrode layer formed at the electrolyte layer. The first electrode layer as well as the second electrode layer have catalyst contained, with a reaction speed of electrochemical reaction generated at the first electrode layer smaller than that generated at the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is formed at an outer edge part of the electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer is formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer surrounded by the first electrode layer, with a sum total of surface areas of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer larger than that of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a single-chamber fuel cell in which a mixed gas of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas is supplied to an anode and a cathode.

  A fuel cell causes an electrochemical reaction in a laminate including an electrolyte layer and electrodes (anode and cathode) disposed on the surface of the electrolyte layer, and electrical energy generated by the electrochemical reaction is connected to the electrode. This is a device that is taken out through a current collector. Among fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as “PEFC”) used in household cogeneration systems and automobiles can be operated in a low temperature range, have a short start-up time, and a system. Has attracted attention as a power source and portable power source for electric vehicles.

  However, PEFC that generates an electrochemical reaction in a low temperature region such as about 80 ° C. has a problem that the usable catalysts are extremely limited, and cost is likely to increase. In addition, when a reformed gas other than hydrogen is used in PEFC, there is a problem that the electrode catalyst is poisoned and the performance is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, from the viewpoint of obtaining a fuel cell that can achieve both low cost and high performance, it is preferable to use a fuel cell having a form different from that of PEFC.

  Among fuel cells of a form different from PEFC, a solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as “SOFC”) has high power generation efficiency and can use many kinds of fuels. The SOFC is a fuel cell that uses a ceramic ion conductor as an electrolyte, and causes an electrochemical reaction in a temperature range of 200 ° C. or higher (for example, a temperature range of about 500 ° C. to 800 ° C.). Since SOFC causes an electrochemical reaction in a higher temperature region than PEFC, there are a wide range of catalyst options and cost reduction is easy. Therefore, the SOFC has attracted attention as a fuel cell that can achieve both low cost and high performance.

  The SOFC includes an oxide ion conduction type and a hydrogen ion conduction type, and can be classified into a one-chamber type (hereinafter referred to as “single-chamber type”) and a two-chamber type depending on the supply form of the reaction gas. Here, the single-chamber type means a mode in which a mixed gas of fuel gas and oxidant gas is supplied to the anode and cathode disposed in one space, and the two-chamber type supplies fuel gas. This means that the anode to be supplied and the cathode to which the oxidant gas is supplied are disposed in different spaces. Among these, the single-chamber SOFC does not need to separate the fuel gas and the oxidant gas and eliminates the need for a separator. Therefore, the single-chamber SOFC can be easily downsized as compared with the two-chamber SOFC. Therefore, according to the single-chamber SOFC, it becomes easy to increase the power generation amount per unit volume.

  As a technique related to a single-chamber SOFC, for example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of single cells each having a pair of fuel electrodes and air electrodes formed on the same plane of a solid electrolyte are formed, and electrodes between different single cells are interleaved. An SOFC having an integrated cell structure connected by a connector, in which a protective layer for protecting the interconnector from a reaction gas is coated on the interconnector, is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses that a battery element in which a porous electrolyte layer made of a solid oxide is sandwiched between two types of electrode layers having different activities with respect to the oxidation reaction of hydrocarbons has an inner surface of a hollow tube body having conductivity. A technology relating to a tubular single-chamber SOFC cell body characterized in that it is formed in a part or the whole of the above.

JP 2007-173055 A JP 2004-349140 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the area of the fuel electrode and the area of the air electrode are approximately the same. Here, there is a difference in the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction occurring at each of the fuel electrode and the air electrode of the single-chamber fuel cell, and the performance of the single-chamber fuel cell is the electrochemical generated at the electrode with the slower reaction rate. Depends on the progress of the reaction. Therefore, as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the area of the fuel electrode and the area of the air electrode are approximately the same, the performance of the electrode with the higher reaction rate cannot be fully utilized, There was a problem that it was difficult to improve the performance of the chamber fuel cell. Further, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to provide a difference between the area of the fuel electrode and the area of the air electrode, but since the difference is small, it is disclosed in Patent Document 2. Even with this technology, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the performance of the single-chamber fuel cell.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a single-chamber fuel cell capable of improving performance.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following means. That is,
The present invention is a single-chamber fuel cell comprising an electrolyte layer and a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer formed on the electrolyte layer, wherein the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer contain a catalyst. The reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction occurring in the first electrode layer is lower than the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction occurring in the second electrode layer, and the first electrode layer is formed on the outer edge of the electrolyte layer, The second electrode layer is formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer surrounded by the one electrode layer, and the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer is larger than the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer. It is a single-chamber fuel cell characterized by being large.

  In the present invention, the “electrolyte layer” expresses the conductivity of oxide ions or hydrogen ions in a temperature range of 200 ° C. or higher and 1000 ° C. or lower and can withstand the environment (heat resistance, etc.) during fuel cell operation. It means an ionic conductor. As the electrolyte layer provided in the single-chamber fuel cell of the present invention, a well-known SOFC electrolyte can be used. Furthermore, in the present invention, the “first electrode layer” and the “second electrode layer” are not particularly limited as long as they function as an anode and a cathode in the above temperature range, and are not limited to the supplied fuel gas. Substances having different activities with respect to the oxidation reaction of the contained reactants (for example, hydrogen and hydrocarbons) can be used in appropriate combination. Furthermore, in the present invention, the “catalyst” is not particularly limited as long as it is a substance that functions as an electrochemical reaction catalyst in the above temperature range, and a catalyst contained in the SOFC anode or cathode is preferably used. Can do.

  In the present invention, the first electrode layer is preferably a cathode and the second electrode layer is preferably an anode.

  Moreover, in the said invention, it is preferable that an electrolyte layer is disk shape and the 2nd electrode layer is formed in the surface center of an electrolyte layer.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer in which the electrochemical reaction is difficult to proceed is equal to the surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer in which the electrochemical reaction is likely to proceed. Since it is larger than the sum, it is possible to reduce the difference between the progress of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer and the progress of the electrochemical reaction in the second electrode layer. The performance of the single-chamber fuel cell correlates with the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer where the electrochemical reaction is difficult to proceed. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer proceeds. It is possible to provide a single-chamber fuel cell capable of improving performance by adopting an easy form. In addition, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second electrode layer is formed in a region surrounded by the first electrode layer formed on the outer edge portion of the electrolyte layer. It is possible to improve the performance by causing almost the whole to function as an ion conductor.

  In the present invention, the first electrode layer is a cathode and the second electrode layer is an anode, so that the performance is improved regardless of whether the electrolyte layer is an oxide ion conduction type or a hydrogen ion conduction type. It becomes possible to provide a single-chamber SOFC that can be used.

  In the present invention, since the electrolyte layer has a disc shape and the second electrode layer is formed at the center of the surface of the electrolyte layer, the distance between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer can be made constant. The conduction resistance of ions conducted between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer can be reduced. Therefore, by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide a single-chamber fuel cell that can easily improve performance.

1. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a single-chamber fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The back / front direction in FIG. 1 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the single-chamber fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The up and down direction of FIG. 2 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional single-chamber fuel cell. 3 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a conventional single-chamber fuel cell. The vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. 4 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. 4, components having the same configuration as in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same symbols as those used in FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a single-chamber fuel cell according to another embodiment. The vertical direction in FIG. 5 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. Hereinafter, the single-chamber fuel cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the single-chamber fuel cell 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a disc-shaped electrolyte layer 1 and a first electrode formed on the outer edge of the surface of the electrolyte layer 1. 1 electrode layer 2, and the 2nd electrode layer 3 formed in the surface center of the electrolyte layer 1 enclosed by the 1st electrode layer 2 are provided. The first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 are connected to a current collector (not shown) (for example, a metal interconnector). In the single chamber fuel cell 10, the surface area of the first electrode layer 2 is larger than the surface area of the second electrode layer 3, and the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 2 is contained in the second electrode layer 3. Greater than the sum of the surface area of the catalyst produced. During operation of the single-chamber fuel cell 10, a reducing gas (for example, hydrogen or hydrocarbon; the same applies hereinafter) and an oxidant gas (for example, air; the same applies hereinafter) are applied to the surfaces of the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3. And a mixed gas is supplied. When the first electrode layer 2 functions as a cathode, the second electrode layer 3 functions as an anode, and the electrolyte layer 1 conducts oxide ions, in the second electrode layer 3,
2H ₂ + 2O ²⁻ → 2H ₂ O + 4e ⁻
In the first electrode layer 2,
4e ⁻ + O ₂ → 2O ²⁻
Reaction occurs. In the single-chamber fuel cell 10 having such a configuration, oxide ions O ²⁻ generated in the first electrode layer 2 are conducted to the second electrode layer 3 through the electrolyte layer 1, and the second electrode layer 3. An electromotive force is obtained between the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 by reacting oxide ions with hydrogen.
On the other hand, when the electrolyte layer 1 conducts hydrogen ions, in the second electrode layer 3,
2H ₂ → 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
In the first electrode layer 2,
4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ O
Reaction occurs. In the single-chamber fuel cell 10 having such a configuration, hydrogen ions H ⁺ generated in the second electrode layer 3 are conducted to the first electrode layer 2 through the electrolyte layer 1, and hydrogen is generated in the first electrode layer 2. An electromotive force is obtained between the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 by reacting ions and oxygen.

  Thus, the single-chamber fuel cell 10 can take two forms depending on whether the electrolyte layer 1 is an oxygen ion conduction type or a hydrogen ion conduction type. In any case, the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction that occurs in the first electrode layer 2 is slower than the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction that occurs in the second electrode layer 3. Since the single-chamber fuel cell 10 is a device that extracts electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction that occurs in the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3, the performance of the single-chamber fuel cell 10 is such that the reaction rate is low. One electrode layer 2 is rate-limiting and depends on the progress of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 2. Therefore, in order to improve the performance of the single chamber fuel cell 10, it is necessary to cause many electrochemical reactions in the first electrode layer 2.

  As described above, in the single-chamber fuel cell 10, the surface area of the first electrode layer 2 is larger than the surface area of the second electrode layer 3, and the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 2 is It is larger than the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the two-electrode layer 3. Therefore, according to the single-chamber fuel cell 10, by increasing the frequency of occurrence of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 2, the progress of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 are increased. The difference from the progress of the electrochemical reaction can be reduced. Therefore, according to the single-chamber fuel cell 10, the performance can be improved.

  In contrast, in the conventional single-chamber fuel cell 90 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first electrode layer 4 and the second electrode layer 5 having the same surface area are formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer 6. The surface area of the catalyst contained in the electrode layer 4 and the surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer 5 are approximately the same. In the conventional single-chamber fuel cell 91 shown in FIG. 5, the first electrode layer 4 is formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer 6, and the second electrode layer 5 is formed on the back surface of the electrolyte layer 6. 4 and the surface area of the second electrode layer 5 are the same, and the surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 4 and the surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer 5 are the same. In the single-chamber fuel cells 90 and 91 having such a configuration, there is a difference between the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 4 and the reaction rate of the electrochemical reaction in the second electrode layer 5. Since the first electrode layer 4 and the second electrode layer 5 having the same form are formed from the viewpoint of the surface area of the electrode layer and the catalyst, in the single-chamber fuel cells 90 and 91, the electrode layer on the side with a lower reaction rate The electrochemical reaction generated in the process was rate-limiting, and it was difficult to improve the performance. In this regard, according to the single-chamber fuel cell 10 of the present invention, the sum of the surface area of the first electrode layer 2 having a low reaction rate and the surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 2 is determined as the second electrode. The sum of the surface area of the layer 3 and the surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer 3 is made larger. Therefore, according to the single-chamber fuel cell 10, the first electrode layer 2 can cause many electrochemical reactions, and as a result, the performance can be improved.

  On the other hand, the surface area of an electrode layer having a relatively low reaction rate (hereinafter referred to as “first electrode layer”) is larger than the surface area of an electrode layer having a relatively high reaction rate (hereinafter referred to as “second electrode layer”). From the viewpoint of increasing the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer to be larger than the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer by increasing the size, a single chamber having the configuration shown in FIG. A type fuel cell 92 is also possible. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a single-chamber fuel cell including a second electrode layer 8 formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer 6 and a first electrode layer 7 having a larger surface area than the second electrode layer 8. 92 is also possible. However, in the single-chamber fuel cell 92 having such a configuration, oxide ions or hydrogen ions move in a portion of the electrolyte layer 6 sandwiched between the first electrode layer 7 and the second electrode layer 8, while the first electrode layer 7 Since the lower part of the second electrode layer 8 having a shorter length (the area indicated by A in FIG. 6) does not function as an ion conduction path, there is a problem that such an area is wasted. Therefore, in the present invention, the second electrode layer 3 is formed in the region surrounded by the first electrode layer 2 from the viewpoint of improving the performance by using the entire electrolyte layer without waste. The single-chamber fuel cell 10 is configured as described above.

  In the above description regarding the single-chamber fuel cell 10 of the present invention, the form in which the disc-shaped electrolyte layer 1 is provided is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this form. Therefore, other modes that can be adopted by the single-chamber fuel cell of the present invention will be described below.

2. Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a single-chamber fuel cell according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The depth direction / front side of FIG. 7 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. 7, components having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the single-chamber fuel cell 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a plate-shaped electrolyte layer 6 having a square cross section, and a first formed on the outer edge of the electrolyte layer 6. The electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 formed at the center of the surface of the electrolyte layer 6 surrounded by the first electrode layer 2 are provided. The first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 are connected to a current collector (not shown) (for example, a metal interconnector). Similarly to the single chamber fuel cell 10, the single chamber fuel cell 11 has a surface area of the first electrode layer 2 larger than that of the second electrode layer 3, and the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 2. Is larger than the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer 3. Thus, even if the shape of the electrolyte layer is not a disc shape, the formation of the electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 2 by forming the second electrode layer 3 in the region surrounded by the first electrode layer 2 The difference between the frequency and the frequency of occurrence of the electrochemical reaction in the second electrode layer 3 can be reduced, and the entire surface of the electrolyte layer 6 can function as an ion conduction path. Therefore, the single chamber type fuel cell 11 which can improve performance can be provided by setting it as this form.

  Here, the single-chamber fuel cell 11 according to the second embodiment includes the electrolyte layer 6 having a square cross section, and the first electrode layer 2 is formed on the outer edge of the electrolyte layer 6. For this reason, the distance between the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 varies depending on the portion of the first electrode layer 2, and the distance between the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 located at the apex of the quadrangle is maximized. Therefore, by providing the disc-shaped electrolyte layer 1, compared with the single-chamber fuel cell 10 in which the distance between the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 is substantially constant, The fuel cell 11 tends to increase the ion conduction resistance. Therefore, from the viewpoint of providing a single-chamber fuel cell that easily improves performance, the single-chamber fuel cell 10 provided with the disc-shaped electrolyte layer 1 is preferable. On the other hand, when a single chamber fuel cell stack is formed by stacking a plurality of single chamber fuel cells, a cross section is provided from the viewpoint of providing a single chamber fuel cell that is easy to position. A single-chamber fuel cell 11 having a quadrangular electrolyte layer 6 is preferable.

  In the above description regarding the single-chamber fuel cells 10 and 11 of the present invention, a mode in which one second electrode layer 3 is provided in a region surrounded by the first electrode layer 2 is illustrated, but the present invention is limited to this mode. Is not to be done. Therefore, other modes that can be adopted by the single-chamber fuel cell of the present invention will be described below.

3. Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a single-chamber fuel cell according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 8 is the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer. 8, components having the same configuration as in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 7, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the single-chamber fuel cell 12 of the present invention according to the third embodiment includes a plate-like electrolyte layer 6, a first electrode layer 2 formed on the outer edge of the electrolyte layer 6, A plurality of second electrode layers 3, 3... Formed in a region surrounded by the first electrode layer 2. A current collecting member (not shown) (for example, a metal interconnector) is connected to the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layers 3, 3,. Similarly to the single-chamber fuel cells 10 and 11, the single-chamber fuel cell 12 also has a surface area of the first electrode layer 2 larger than the sum of the surface areas of the second electrode layers 3, 3,. The sum of the surface areas of the catalysts contained in is larger than the sum of the surface areas of the catalysts contained in the second electrode layers 3, 3. As described above, even when the plurality of second electrode layers 3, 3,... Are formed on the electrolyte layer 6, the total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer 2 is determined as the second electrode layer 3. Are made larger than the sum of the surface areas of the catalysts contained in the three electrode layers, and so on, and the frequency of electrochemical reaction in the first electrode layer 2 and the frequency of electrochemical reaction in the second electrode layers 3, 3,. Can be reduced. Further, by forming a plurality of second electrode layers 3,... In a region surrounded by the first electrode layer 2, the entire surface of the electrolyte layer 6 can function as an ion conduction path. Therefore, by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide the single-chamber fuel cell 12 that can improve the performance.

  In the single-chamber fuel cell of the present invention, the widths of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer (hereinafter collectively referred to as “electrode layer”) formed in the electrolyte layer are particularly limited. It is not a thing. However, the electromotive force of the single-chamber fuel cell is generated between the surface of the first electrode layer facing the second electrode layer and the surface of the second electrode layer facing the first electrode layer, and the width of the electrode layer However, it is considered that a catalyst present at a position away from the surface facing another adjacent electrode layer is not effectively utilized. Therefore, by dispersing a necessary and sufficient amount of catalyst, from the viewpoint of obtaining a single-chamber fuel cell that can achieve both performance improvement and cost reduction, the width of the electrode layer formed on the electrolyte layer is reduced. It is preferable to make it narrow.

In the present invention, the electrolyte layers 1 and 6 exhibit oxide ion or hydrogen ion conduction performance in a temperature range of 200 ° C. or higher and 1000 ° C. or lower and can withstand the environment (heat resistance, etc.) during fuel cell operation. As long as it is made of an ionic conductor (ion conducting material), the constituent material is not particularly limited. Specific examples of ion conductive materials that exhibit oxide ion conductivity in the above temperature range include yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ: Y ₂ O ₃ stabilized ZrO ₂ ), scandia stabilized zirconia (SSZ: Sc ₂ O _3). Stabilized ZrO ₂ ), lanthanum gallate (LaGaO ₃ ), ceria-based oxide (for example, SDC: Ce _x Sm _1-x Oy), lanthanum gallium perovskite complex oxide (LSGM: (La, Sr) (Ga, Mg) _{) O 3), GDC (Ce} x Gd 1-x O 2), ESB (Bi 2-x Er x O 3), _{and, DWSB (Bi 2- (x +} y) be mentioned Dy _x W y _{O 3)} or the like Can do. On the other hand, specific examples of the ion conductive material exhibiting hydrogen ion conductivity in the above temperature range include barium serate (BaCeO ₃ ) and strontium serate (SrCeO ₃ ).

In the present invention, the first electrode layer 2 and the second electrode layer 3 are made of a material that can function as an anode or a cathode of a single-chamber fuel cell in the above temperature range and can withstand the environment during fuel cell operation. If it is, the form will not be specifically limited. Specific examples of the anode constituent material satisfying the requirement include nickel / zirconia cermet, and specific examples of the cathode constituent material satisfying the requirement include lanthanum manganite (LaMnO ₃ ) and the like. .

  In the present invention, the interconnector that electrically connects the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer can be formed of a known material that constitutes the SOFC interconnector.

1 is a plan view showing a form example of a single chamber fuel cell 10. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a form example of a single chamber fuel cell 10. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a single-chamber fuel cell 90. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a form example of a single-chamber fuel cell 90. FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a single chamber type fuel cell 91. FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a configuration of a single chamber fuel cell 92. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a form example of a single-chamber fuel cell 11. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a form example of a single-chamber fuel cell 12. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 6 ... Electrolyte layer 2, 4, 7 ... 1st electrode layer 3, 5, 8 ... 2nd electrode layer 10, 11, 12 ... Single chamber type fuel cell 90, 91, 92 ... Single chamber type fuel cell

Claims (3)

A single-chamber fuel cell comprising an electrolyte layer, and a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer formed on the electrolyte layer,
A catalyst is contained in the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer,
A reaction rate of an electrochemical reaction occurring in the first electrode layer is smaller than a reaction rate of an electrochemical reaction occurring in the second electrode layer;
The first electrode layer is formed on the outer edge of the electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer is formed on the surface of the electrolyte layer surrounded by the first electrode layer,
The single-chamber fuel cell, wherein a total surface area of the catalyst contained in the first electrode layer is larger than a total surface area of the catalyst contained in the second electrode layer. The single-chamber fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer is a cathode and the second electrode layer is an anode. The single-chamber fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrolyte layer has a disk shape, and the second electrode layer is formed at the center of the surface of the electrolyte layer.

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