JP2009269781A - Method for generating hydrogen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method in which various energy including hydrogen can be obtained with high energy conversion efficiency by an easily controlled method using a raw material which is easily handled and is highly safe. <P>SOLUTION: The method for generating hydrogen is characterized in that anode reaction including oxidation reaction of a hydride ion in a solution containing an ionic hydride and a hydroxide and cathode reaction including hydrogen-generating reaction are allowed to occur spontaneously through a cation-exchange electrolyte membrane. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen generation method and a hydrogen generation apparatus.

  As a method for generating hydrogen, a system for generating hydrogen from a hydride by hydrolysis has been proposed (Patent Document 1 below). However, the hydrogen generation method by hydrolysis has a problem that it is very difficult to control the hydrogen generation due to a chemical reaction. In addition, when the chemical energy of hydride is converted to the chemical energy of hydrogen, the remainder is released as thermal energy to the outside of the system, which causes a problem of poor energy conversion efficiency.

  In addition, various electrochemical systems have been proposed in which a hydride formed as an electrode together with a current collector is oxidized as an anode, while electricity is generated at the cathode while reducing water to generate hydrogen (Patent Documents 2 and 3 below). reference). In this system, it is possible to extract electrical energy simultaneously with the generation of hydrogen by oxidizing a hydride that has an electrochemically lower potential than the hydrogen generation reaction that occurs at the cathode. As a hydride used in this system, Patent Document 2 proposes a mixture of sodium hydride and aluminum, and Patent Document 3 discloses a reversible hydride of titanium hydride, zinc hydride, nickel or lanthanum, or Misch. Hydrogen storage components such as metals have been proposed.

  However, in the methods of Patent Documents 2 and 3, the hydride used is solid at room temperature, and when the hydride completely reacts, not only the hydride but also the electrode itself including the current collector must be replaced. There is.

  In addition, sodium hydride undergoes a hydrolysis reaction due to the presence of water, and therefore there is a problem that when an aqueous electrolyte is used, energy cannot actually be extracted electrochemically. Furthermore, there is a problem that when the surface of the hydride is oxidized due to the progress of the anode reaction and an insulating surface film is formed, the reaction does not proceed any more. It is inevitable to contaminate.

Patent Document 4 listed below discloses an anode that decomposes fuel having a standard oxidation-reduction potential of 0 or less, a cathode that is disposed opposite to the anode and that generates hydrogen, and an electrolyte membrane that is disposed between the anode and the cathode. A hydrogen generation apparatus including the above is disclosed. Patent Document 4 describes hydrazines such as hydrazine (NH ₂ NH ₂ ) and hydrazine hydrohydrate (NH ₂ NH ₂ .H ₂ O), ammonia (NH ₃ ), formic acid (HCOOH) and the like as fuel. However, these fuels have a low flash point and require careful handling. In addition, ammonia and carbon monoxide are generated by a side reaction on the anode side, and these by-products have a problem that the electrode reaction on the anode side is inhibited by adsorbing to the electrode surface. Furthermore, since the fuel crosses over the electrolyte membrane, not only does the fuel oxidize at the cathode to reduce the amount of hydrogen generated, but also impurities such as ammonia, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are mixed in the generated hydrogen gas. There is a problem of doing.
US Pat. No. 4,155,712 Special table 2003-500319 Special table 2007-503705 JP-A-2005-71645

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its main purpose is as follows.
An object is to provide a method capable of acquiring various kinds of energy containing hydrogen with high energy conversion efficiency by a simple control method using raw materials that are easy to handle and highly safe.

  The present inventor has intensively studied to achieve the above-described object. As a result, a solution in which the ionic hydride and hydroxide are dissolved is supplied to the anode side electrode portion, and water is supplied to the cathode side electrode disposed via the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane, so that the anode side electrode and the cathode are supplied. It was found that the hydride oxidation reaction at the anode and the hydrogen generation reaction at the cathode proceed spontaneously by electrically coupling the side electrodes. And according to this method, it is possible to obtain electric energy at the same time as hydrogen is generated with high conversion efficiency, and it is possible to take out chemical energy of hydride as electric energy and chemical energy of hydrogen with high conversion efficiency. The present invention has been completed here.

That is, the present invention is to provide the following hydrogen generation method and hydrogen generation apparatus.
1. An anodic reaction comprising an oxidation reaction of hydride ions in a solution containing ionic hydride and hydroxide;
Cathode reactions including hydrogen evolution reactions
A method for generating hydrogen, which is generated spontaneously through a cation exchange electrolyte membrane. 2. The ionic hydride is represented by the general formula: X (YH _4-n Z _n ) ( _where X is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 , where M is an alkaline earth metal). Y is B, Al or Ga, Z is a halogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer of 0 to 3, and a hydroxide is generally used. Item 2. The compound according to Item 1, which is a compound represented by the formula: AOH (wherein A is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 (wherein M is an alkaline earth metal)). Hydrogen generation method.
3. Item 1. The ionic hydride is at least one selected from the group consisting of LiBH ₄ , NaBH ₄ and KBH ₄ , and the hydroxide is at least one selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH and KOH. Or the hydrogen generating method of 2.
4). Item 4. The method for generating hydrogen according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane is a cation exchange type solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
5. An anode side electrode part to which a solution containing an ionic hydride and a hydroxide is supplied;
A cathode side electrode part disposed opposite to the anode side electrode part and generating hydrogen;
A hydrogen generating apparatus comprising: a cation exchange electrolyte disposed between the anode side electrode part and the cathode side electrode part.

  Hereinafter, the hydrogen generation method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which shows a schematic configuration of one embodiment of a hydrogen generation apparatus that can be used to implement the hydrogen generation method of the present invention.

  A hydrogen generator 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an anode side electrode 2, a cathode side electrode 3, and a cation exchange type electrolyte membrane 4 as main components. A solution containing ionic hydride and hydroxide is supplied to the anode side electrode 2 from the anode side raw material inlet 6 as a raw material solution.

As the ionic hydride, for example, a compound represented by the general formula: X (YH _4-n Z _n ) can be used. In the above general formula, X is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 (wherein M is an alkaline earth metal), Y is B, Al or Ga, and Z is a halogen atom or a single atom. And n is an integer of 0 to 3. Examples of the alkali metal include Li. Na, K, Rb, and Cs. Examples of the alkaline earth metal include Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. Examples of the halogen atom include F, Cl, Br, and I. Etc. can be illustrated. Examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group include a linear or branched alkyl group having about 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, Isobutyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, 1-ethylpropyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, isohexyl, 3 -A methylpentyl group etc. can be illustrated.

Among these ionic hydrides, alkali metal borohydride compounds such as LiBH ₄ , NaBH ₄ and KBH ₄ are particularly preferable.

As the hydroxide, for example, a compound represented by the general formula: AOH can be used. In the above general formula, A is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 (wherein M is an alkaline earth metal). Examples of the alkali metal include Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, and examples of the alkaline earth metal include Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba. Of these hydroxides, alkali metal hydroxides such as LiOH, NaOH, and KOH are particularly preferable.

In a solution containing an ionic hydride and a hydroxide, as a solvent, in the solution, an ionic hydride: X (YH _4-n Z _n ), X ⁺ and (YH _4-n Z _n ) ⁻ Any solvent capable of ion dissociation can be used without particular limitation. As such a solvent, in addition to water, a non-aqueous solvent having a high Lewis basicity, a low Lewis acidity, and a high relative dielectric constant can be used. Examples of such non-aqueous solvents include diethyl ether, dimethoxyethane, diethoxyethane, diglyme, triglyme, tetraglyme, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dioxolane, tetramethylpyran, and other ethers, carbon disulfide, methyl acetate, γ-Butyllactone, methyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, acetone, formamide, methylformamide, dimethylformamide, acetamide, methylacetamide, dimethylacetamide, ethylenediamine, methylpyrrolidone, pyridine, aniline, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetra Methylurea, tetramethylguanidine, acetonitrile, nitromethane, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, triethyl phosphate, hexamethylphosphorus Triamide, ammonia and the like. Preferred non-aqueous solvents are tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, methylpyrrolidone, pyridine and the like.

  The concentration of the ionic hydride in the solution containing the ionic hydride and the hydroxide is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 0.0001 to 30 mol / L, and more preferably about 0.01 to 10 mol / L.

The hydroxide concentration is preferably about 0.0001 to 20 mol / L, and 0.01 to 4 mol / L.
More preferably, it is about.

By bringing the solution containing the ionic hydride and hydroxide into contact with the anode side electrode, an oxidation reaction of hydride ions existing in the solution proceeds on the surface of the anode side electrode. This produces an oxidation product of hydride ions and water. For example, when LiBH ₄ is used as a hydride, the anodic reaction proceeds by the following reaction, and hydride ions: BH ₄ ⁻ are oxidized.

Anode _{reaction: LiBH 4 + 8LiOH → LiBO 2} + 6H 2 O + 8Li + + 8e -
The reaction temperature of the anodic reaction is not particularly limited, and the reaction can usually proceed at room temperature.

  The type of the anode side electrode 2 is not particularly limited. For example, a porous electrode in which a catalyst is supported on a support can be used.

Although it does not restrict | limit especially as a catalyst, For example, a transition metal can be used, for example, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, etc. Mention may be made of metals. In particular, Pt black, Au powder and the like are preferable.

  As the carrier, for example, a conductive porous carrier such as carbon can be used.

The anode side electrode 2 can be obtained by supporting the above-described catalyst on a carrier by a known method. Amount of catalyst supported on the carrier, for example, be a 0.1 to 5.0 mg / cm ² or so, it is preferable to 0.1-3.0 mg / cm ² or so.

  In the anode side electrode 2, the catalyst layer may be directly formed on the surface of the cation exchange electrolyte membrane 4 without supporting the catalyst on the carrier. In that case, it can be used as a membrane-electrode assembly in which the anode-side electrode 2 and the electrolyte membrane 4 are integrally laminated.

  Such a membrane-electrode assembly is prepared by mixing and dispersing the above-described catalyst powder and an electrolyte solution, adjusting the viscosity of the solution by blending an appropriate amount of an organic solvent, and then, for example, spraying the solution. It can be formed by applying to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 4 by a known coating method such as coating, drying, hot pressing, and fixing the catalyst on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 4.

  Such a membrane-electrode assembly can also be obtained by forming the above-described catalyst metal on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 4 by electroless plating.

Incidentally, the amount of supported catalyst directly stacked (supported) on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 4, in the same manner as mentioned above, 0.1 to 5.0 mg / cm ^2, preferably, 0.1-3.0 mg / cm ² It is.

The cation component generated by the anode reaction passes through the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane 4 and moves to the cathode side electrode portion. At the same time, the electrons generated by the anode reaction pass through the external circuit 5 and are supplied to the cathode side electrode 3. Thus, a cathode reaction including hydrogen generation occurs on the surface of the cathode side electrode 3. For example, when a solution containing LiBH ₄ and LiOH is used as a raw material solution, lithium cations Li ⁺ generated by the anodic reaction pass through the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane, electrons move through the external circuit 5, and the cathode side The following cathode reaction proceeds on the electrode surface to generate hydrogen.

The cathodic ^{_{reaction: 8H 2 O + 8Li + +}} 8e - → 8LiOH + 4H 2
In this case, the total reaction combined with the anode reaction described above is as follows.

Total reaction: LiBH ₄ + 2H ₂ O → LiBO ₂ + 4H ₂
According to the above method, hydrogen can be obtained not only from ionic hydrides but also from hydrogen atoms contained in water, so that hydrogen can be obtained with very high efficiency.

  The reaction temperature of the cathode reaction is not particularly limited, and the reaction can usually proceed at room temperature.

  The cathode side electrode 3 is not particularly limited. For example, a porous electrode in which a catalyst is supported on a carrier can be used.

The cathode side electrode 3 is provided, for example, opposite to the anode side electrode 2 so as to be in contact with the other surface of the electrolyte membrane 4. Further, the cathode side electrode 3 may be laminated on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 4 directly without supporting the catalyst on the carrier in the same manner as described above. In that case, the cathode-side electrode 3 is used as a membrane-electrode assembly in which the electrolyte membrane 4 is integrally laminated.
By the same method as that for the anode-side electrode 2 described above, it is possible to form a laminate simultaneously with or separately from the anode-side electrode 2.

  The catalyst used in the cathode side electrode 3 may be any catalyst that has activity for the hydrogen generation reaction due to the reduction of water. For example, a fourth catalyst such as Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, or Au may be used. Or 5 period group 8-11 metal can be mentioned, Pt black is especially preferable.

Amount of catalyst supported in the cathode 3 is, for example, be a 0.1 to 5.0 mg / cm ² or so, it is preferable to 0.1-3.0 mg / cm ² or so.

  In the cathode side electrode 3, for example, by supplying water from the cathode side raw material inlet 8, the above-described cathode reaction can proceed. In this case, water may be supplied directly, or a humidified inert gas may be supplied. Even when water is not supplied from the cathode side raw material inlet 8, the water contained in the anode raw material or the water generated by the anode reaction moves to the cathode side electrode 3 by moving through the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane. Cathode reaction can proceed. Hydrogen generated on the surface of the cathode side electrode 3 is recovered from, for example, a hydrogen outlet 9 installed in the cathode side electrode portion. Further, the hydroxide generated at the cathode side electrode 3 can be mixed with the raw material solution on the anode side and used again for the anode reaction. This makes it possible to proceed the reaction without supplying new hydroxide from the outside.

  As the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane 4 disposed between the anode side electrode 2 and the cathode side electrode 3 described above, for example, a cation exchange type solid polymer electrolyte capable of passing a cation dissociated from an ionic hydride can be used. A membrane can be used. Specific examples of such a solid polymer electrolyte membrane include fluorine-based ion exchange membranes such as a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane and a perfluorocarbon carboxylic acid membrane, a polybenzimidazole membrane impregnated with phosphoric acid, a polystyrene sulfonic acid membrane, and a sulfone. Examples thereof include a styrene oxide / vinylbenzene copolymer film. Among these, a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane marketed under a trade name such as Nafion is particularly preferable.

  The external circuit 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can electrically connect the anode side electrode 2 and the cathode side electrode 3. For example, if the electromotive force generated in the hydrogen generator 1 is large, It may be configured as a power source for an external device, or if it is small, it may be configured to generate a maximum amount of hydrogen as a short circuit directly connecting them.

  In the hydrogen generator 1 described above, an anode-side raw material inlet 6 and an anode-side outlet 7 can be further provided outside the anode-side electrode 2, and a cathode-side raw material inlet 8 is generated outside the cathode-side electrode 3. A hydrogen discharge port 9 or the like can be provided. Further, a current collector can be provided outside the anode side electrode 2 in contact with the anode side electrode 2, and gas diffusion can be performed outside the cathode side electrode 3 in contact with the cathode side electrode 3. A layered current collector or the like can be provided. The structure of the hydrogen generator including these members may be the same as that of a known hydrogen generator. For example, the structure of the hydrogen generator described in JP-A-2005-71645 can be used.

  Although there is no limitation in particular about the use of the hydrogen generated using the above-mentioned hydrogen generator, for example, it can be used as a fuel of a fuel cell. In this case, for example, the hydrogen discharge port 9 described above may be joined to a hydrogen supply line, and the generated hydrogen may be supplied to the fuel cell.

  According to the hydrogen generation method of the present invention, the following remarkable effects are exhibited.

  (1) The anode reaction proceeds by the spontaneous reaction of the ionic hydride used as a raw material. For this reason, an external power supply is unnecessary, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

  Further, the hydrogen generation reaction can be easily controlled by opening and closing an external circuit in the hydrogen generator.

  (2) Hydrogen is generated not only by decomposition of the ionic hydride used as a raw material but also by decomposition of water. For this reason, hydrogen can be obtained with high efficiency. Moreover, since electrical energy can be acquired simultaneously with hydrogen generation, chemical energy and electrical energy can be obtained with high energy conversion efficiency from an ionic hydride used as a raw material.

  (3) Since a solution containing an ionic hydride is used as a raw material, it is easy to supply the raw material and hydrogen can be generated continuously.

  (4) The hydride ion that undergoes an anodic reaction is an anion, and it is in principle impossible to permeate the cation exchange electrolyte membrane. For this reason, hydride ions do not cross over, and excellent reactivity can be maintained without inhibiting the hydrogen generation reaction on the cathode side.

(5) Especially when LiBH ₄ is used as the ionic hydride, it can be stored safely for a long time because it is solid at normal temperature and pressure, and it can be liquefied as necessary. it can. Furthermore, it is easy to handle because it has a high melting point and is stable without being decomposed up to 380 ° C.

Also, when alkali metal hydrides such as LiBH ₄ are used as raw materials, the electromotive force is higher than when hydrazine, formic acid, etc. are used, and the high driving force is used to operate the same voltage. In this case, the current value increases, resulting in an increase in the amount of hydrogen generated. Further, since the product in the anodic reaction is borate ion and the product in the side reaction is mainly hydrogen, there is little problem that they cover the electrode surface and reduce the reactivity.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

Example 1
1) Production of membrane-electrode assembly Pt was catalyzed on both sides of a cation exchange type electrolyte membrane 4 comprising a cation exchange type perfluoro solid polymer electrolyte membrane (Nafion 117 (registered trademark), thickness 183 μm, manufactured by DuPont). The anode side electrode 2 containing as a catalyst and the cathode side electrode 3 containing Pt as a catalyst were joined together by hot pressing to produce a membrane-electrode assembly.

The amount of Pt supported was 2.4 mg / cm ² on both sides. The obtained membrane-electrode assembly had a circular shape, and the electrode area was 10 cm ² .

2) Production of hydrogen generator Membrane-electrode produced in step 1) above in a test cell in which anode-side raw material inlet 6, anode-side outlet 7, cathode-side raw material inlet 8, and hydrogen take-out port 9 were previously set. A hydrogen generator 1 was produced by sandwiching a joined body, a current collector made of a sintered titanium fiber, and a current collector with a gas diffusion layer made of carbon cloth coated with a water repellent carbon layer.

3) Measurement of hydrogen generation amount and generation voltage From the anode side raw material inlet 6, lithium borohydride (LiBH ₄ ) and lithium hydroxide (LiO)
An aqueous solution in which H) was dissolved to 1 mol / L was circulated at 6 mL / min, and water was circulated at 6 mL / min from the cathode side raw material inlet 8. As an external circuit 5, a galvanostat (SI 1280B type, manufactured by Solartron) for adjusting the current is connected, and the generated voltage is measured while adjusting the current with this galvanostat, and the hydrogen generated at the cathode The amount of hydrogen generation was measured by measuring by the method. This experiment was performed at room temperature. The results are shown in FIG.

Example 2
Example 1 with the exception of using NaBH ₄ instead of LiBH ₄ as the ionic hydride and NaOH instead of LiOH as the hydride using a hydrogen generator having the same structure as in Example 1. Similarly, a hydrogen generation test was performed, and the hydrogen generation amount and the generation voltage were measured. The results are shown in FIG.

Example 3
Example 1 with the exception of using a hydrogen generator having the same structure as in Example 1 and using KBH ₄ instead of LiBH ₄ as the ionic hydride and KOH instead of LiOH as the hydroxide. Similarly, a hydrogen generation test was performed, and the hydrogen generation amount and the generation voltage were measured. The results are shown in FIG.

Example 4
A hydrogen generator was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that Au was used instead of Pt as the anode catalyst, and the hydrogen generation amount and the generated voltage were measured. The results are shown in FIG.

  As apparent from FIGS. 2 to 5, in the hydrogen generation experiments performed in Examples 1 to 4, an electromotive force of 0.1 V or more was generated in the closed circuit, and the hydrogen generation amount (solid line) was increased as the current density increased. On the other hand, when the generated voltage (dotted line) decreased and the generated voltage became zero, the maximum current value (= maximum hydrogen generation amount) obtained spontaneously was observed.

From these results, according to the hydrogen generation method of the present invention, lithium borohydride (LiBH ₄ )
Using ionic hydrides such as sodium borohydride (NaBH ₄ ) and potassium borohydride (KBH ₄ ) as raw materials, it is possible to acquire hydrogen and electrical energy through spontaneous reaction, It was confirmed that the hydrogen generation amount can be easily controlled by adjusting the resistance value and the like.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the hydrogen generator of this invention. FIG. 4 is an interphase diagram showing the relationship between current density, generated voltage, and hydrogen generation amount in a hydrogen generation test performed in Example 1. FIG. 4 is an interphase diagram showing the relationship between current density, generated voltage, and hydrogen generation amount in a hydrogen generation test performed in Example 2. FIG. 5 is an interphase diagram showing the relationship between current density, generated voltage, and hydrogen generation amount in a hydrogen generation test performed in Example 3. It is an interphase figure which shows the relationship between the current density in the hydrogen generation test done in Example 4, the generated voltage, and the amount of hydrogen generation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen generator 2 Anode side electrode 3 Cathode side electrode 4 Cation exchange type electrolyte membrane 5 External circuit 6 Anode side raw material inlet 7 Anode side outlet 8 Cathode side raw material inlet 9 Hydrogen extraction port

Claims (5)

An anodic reaction comprising an oxidation reaction of hydride ions in a solution containing ionic hydride and hydroxide;
Cathode reactions including hydrogen evolution reactions
A method for generating hydrogen, which is generated spontaneously through a cation exchange electrolyte membrane. The ionic hydride is represented by the general formula: X (YH _4-n Z _n ) ( _where X is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 , where M is an alkaline earth metal). Y is B, Al or Ga, Z is a halogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer of 0 to 3, and a hydroxide is generally used. The compound represented by the formula: AOH (wherein A is an alkali metal, NH ₄ , or M _1/2 (wherein M is an alkaline earth metal)). Hydrogen generation method. The ionic hydride is at least one selected from the group consisting of LiBH ₄ , NaBH ₄ and KBH ₄ , and the hydroxide is at least one selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH and KOH. Or the hydrogen generating method of 2. The method for generating hydrogen according to claim 1, wherein the cation exchange type electrolyte membrane is a cation exchange type solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An anode side electrode part to which a solution containing an ionic hydride and a hydroxide is supplied;
A cathode side electrode part disposed opposite to the anode side electrode part and generating hydrogen;
A hydrogen generating apparatus comprising: a cation exchange electrolyte disposed between the anode side electrode part and the cathode side electrode part.

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