JPH0633284A - Water electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the conductor plate and depolarization plate in the water electrolytic device provided with a feeder on both sides of a solid high molecular electrolyte by using the foamed metal and porous carbon of specified porosity having a gas and liq. passage function as the feeder. CONSTITUTION:Catalytic electrodes 2 and 3 are joined to both surfaces of a solid high molecular electrolyte 1, and feeders 4 and 5 and terminal strips 6, 7 and 8 to supply an electric power to the feeders are arranged on both sides of the electrolyte. In this water electrolytic device, the foamed metal and porous carbon of 95% porosity having a gas and liq. passage function are used as the feeders 4 and 5. Consequently, the conductor plates 7 and 8 and depolarization plate 6 need not be grooved, and the structure of the water electrolytic device is simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water electrolysis cell, and more particularly to a structure of a solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis cell using a power feeder having a gas-liquid flow path function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a method using a solid polymer electrolyte capable of electrolyzing water with high efficiency has attracted attention. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the principle of a water electrolysis cell using a solid polymer electrolyte. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis cell, in which catalyst electrodes 2 and 3 are joined to both surfaces of a solid polymer electrolyte 1 and porous power supply members 4 and 4 are provided on both sides thereof.
5 and further provided with energizing terminal plates 7 and 8 on both sides thereof, which are composed of an anode chamber 10 and a cathode chamber 9 partitioned by the solid polymer electrolyte 1. When water is supplied to the anode chamber 10 and a direct current is applied between the electrodes, electrolysis of water occurs, O ₂ gas is generated in the anode chamber 10, and at the same time, the separated hydrogen ions H ⁺ are solid polymer electrolyte 1 The hydrogen ion H ⁺ obtains an electron e ⁻ in the cathode chamber 9 and becomes H ₂ gas.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a case where water electrolysis cells are laminated. Catalytic electrodes 2 on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte 1
Feeders 4 and 5 are arranged on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly in which 3 is joined. As the material of the power supply body, a platinum mesh titanium mesh (porosity 53.5%) is used on the anode side, and a porous carbon plate (porosity 70%) is used on the cathode side. 6
Is called a bipolar plate and is used for stacking,
A titanium plate with grooves on both sides is used to secure the gas flow path.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional water electrolysis cell, the structure of the cathode and anode current-carrying plates and the bipolar plate has a complicated structure in which grooves are formed. This is a major factor in increasing the cost of the water electrolysis cell due to the cost.

In view of the above-mentioned state of the art, the present invention aims to provide a water electrolysis cell in which the structures of the current-carrying plate and the bipolar plate can be simplified.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water electrolysis apparatus in which a catalyst electrode is joined to both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte, and a power feeding body and an energizing terminal plate are arranged on both sides of the catalyst electrode. It is a water electrolysis cell using a foam metal and porous carbon each having a channel function and having a porosity of 95% or more.

That is, the present invention uses a foam metal and porous carbon, which have very good gas-liquid permeability, as a power supply,
The power supply body itself has a gas-liquid flow path function.

[0008]

By providing the gas feeder with the gas-liquid flow path itself as described above, it is not necessary to form grooves on the current-carrying plate and the bipolar plate, and the structure of the cell can be simplified. Also,
Compared to the conventional groove processing, since the power supply body used in the present invention is a foam metal or porous carbon, the surface is smooth and the contact property with the membrane electrode assembly is improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a water electrolysis cell when laminated according to the present invention. The respective parts of this water electrolysis cell are arranged in contact with each other, but in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 4 and 5 are foamed metal power feeders used in the present invention. Since the metal foam itself has a gas-liquid flow path function, as shown in FIG. 1, the power feeding bodies 4 and 5 are mounted on the bipolar current carrying plates 7 and 8 and the bipolar plate 6 without making a plurality of grooves. It has a wide dent. Further, although not shown in the drawings, the bipolar current-carrying plates 7 and 8 and the bipolar plate 6 may be flat plates without processing any recesses or the like. These power feeders 4 and 5 have a porosity of 95% or more and are made of foam metal such as titanium and nickel. It is also possible to use a carbon porous body on the cathode side of this power supply, but the porosity at this time must be 95% or more. In other words, if the porosity is 95% or more, it can be used.

[0010]

As in the present invention, when the foam metal and the porous carbon having the gas-liquid flow path function are used as the power supply,
The structure of the current-carrying plate and the bipolar plate can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the water electrolysis cell as a whole can be significantly reduced. Further, as compared with the conventional groove processing, the contact property with the membrane electrode assembly is improved, which is also a factor for improving the performance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a water electrolysis cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a conventional solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis cell.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view when the water electrolysis cells of FIG. 2 are stacked.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water electrolysis device in which a catalyst electrode is joined to both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte, and a power supply and an energizing terminal plate are arranged on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte, and each pore has a gas-liquid flow path function as a power supply. A water electrolysis cell using a metal foam and a porous carbon having a rate of 95% or more.