JPH07169469A - Electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electrode having both water repellency and conductivity. CONSTITUTION:A positive electrode 20 and a negative electrode 30 opposed to each other through an electrolytic film 10 with catalyst reacting layers 12, 14 being interposed have first electrode layer parts 21, 32, second electrode layer parts 22, 32, third electrode layer parts 23, 33, and outside electrode layer parts 24, 34 laminated thereon, respectively. Each electrode layer part is formed by curving a continued electrode base material in bellows, and the electrode base material is a woven fabric using a core material having a copper wire as the core as warp and weft. The first electrode layer parts 21, 32 and the outside electrode layer parts 24, 34 show electric conductivity with an external member through a conductive sheath provided on the copper wire corresponding to this part, and mutually continued by the copper wire of the warp of the fabric. The second electrode layer parts 22, 32 and the third electrode layer parts 23, 33 show water repellency through a water repellent sheath provided on the core wire corresponding to this part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electrodes facing each other with an electrolyte in between.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrode of this kind is an energy conversion device for converting chemical energy and electric energy of a substance, for example,
A fuel cell that reacts hydrogen and oxygen as fuel and converts its chemical energy into electric energy, or conversely, hydrogen (oxygen) that receives electric energy and electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen and oxygen It is used in devices, etc., and faces each other with the electrolyte in each device interposed. in this case,
In the case of a fuel cell, electric energy can be transmitted to the engine by electrically connecting both electrodes via an engine that converts electric energy into kinetic energy.

At the electrodes of these energy conversion devices, a reaction for producing water or a reverse reaction for decomposing water is usually carried out. For example, in an electrode of a fuel cell (solid polymer fuel cell), the reaction shown by the following reaction formula proceeds according to its polarity. Cathode (hydrogen ^{_{electrode): H 2 → 2H + +}} 2e - ... anode (oxygen ^{electrode): 2H + + 2e - +} (1/2) O 2 → H 2 O ...

Hydrogen ions produced by the reaction of the formula at the cathode permeate (diffuse) a polymer ion exchange membrane which is an electrolyte in the hydrated state of H ⁺ ( _x H ₂ O), and the hydrogen ions permeate through the membrane. Are subjected to a reaction of the formula at the anode.

In order to carry out these reactions continuously,
It is necessary to continuously supply the reaction substance to the electrode and remove the generated substance (electrode generated substance) from the vicinity of the electrode. For example, in the case of a fuel cell, at the anode, it is necessary to continuously supply oxygen in a gaseous state and to remove water as a product. If the product water is not removed, the water will stay near the electrode and the gas (oxygen gas) permeability at the electrode (anode) will decrease, which will reduce the operating efficiency and eventually stop the above electrode reaction. Because.

On the other hand, in the cathode, it is necessary to continuously supply hydrogen in a gaseous state as well and to smoothly diffuse hydrogen ions into the electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen ions combine with water in the electrolyte membrane to move into the above-mentioned hydrated state and move in the electrolyte membrane, so that the electrolyte membrane near the cathode is replenished with water from the outside so that the water near the cathode does not become insufficient. There is a need. This is because if the amount of water near the cathode is insufficient, the diffusion of hydrogen ions into the electrolyte membrane is hindered, the hydrogen ions in the electrolyte membrane are insufficient, and the reaction at the anode is hindered. Therefore, in order to secure the water content in the cathode and the film, hydrogen gas is humidified with steam and supplied to the cathode.

However, if water vapor is simply supplied together with hydrogen gas, dew condensation and retention of water vapor will occur at the cathode and the gas (hydrogen gas) permeability at this cathode will decrease.
Therefore, in order to prevent water retention in the cathode,
Alternatively, water repellency is applied to the electrode in order to prevent the water generated at the anode from accumulating in the anode (for example, JP-A-60-211774). In this way, by imparting water repellency, moisture is repelled from the inside of the electrode to the outside of the electrode, and the retention of moisture in the electrode is avoided. In imparting water repellency, JP-A-60-2
In 11774, an electrode base material such as carbon fiber paper is impregnated with a fluororesin (polytetrafluoroethylene) which is a water-repellent resin.

[0008]

However, the following problems have been pointed out only by imparting water repellency. When the electrode base material is impregnated with a water-repellent resin, the surface of the base material is covered with a non-conductive water-repellent resin.
The electrical conductivity with the outside on the surface of the base material is cut off. Therefore, when the cathode and the anode are electrically connected via an electric motor or the like to drive the electric motor, the electrical continuity between the electrode and the connecting member, for example, the current collector, is water-repellent. It is blocked by the resin and causes a transmission loss of electric energy. As proposed in JP-A-60-211774, even if the catalytic element is directly carried on the surface of the electrode base material, there is a portion covered with the water-repellent resin on the surface of the electrode base material. There is no change, and the above-mentioned problems occur.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an electrode having both water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside. To that end.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the means adopted in the electrode according to claim 1 are electrodes facing each other with an electrolyte interposed therebetween, and a first layer portion on the electrolyte side, An intermediate layer portion laminated on the first layer portion on the side opposite to the electrolyte side, and an outermost layer portion laminated on the intermediate layer portion so as to face the first layer portion with the intermediate layer portion interposed therebetween. An electrode base material capable of transferring electrons between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion and an external member in contact with the first layer portion or the outermost layer portion, and having conductivity and gas permeability It is formed by using, and the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion are electrically connected to each other, and the intermediate layer portion is a member having water repellency and gas permeability. Use as a summary.

In this case, the electrodes described in claims 2 to 4 employ the following means, respectively. First, in the electrode according to claim 2, a water-repellent surface portion having a water-repellent surface on a continuous electrode base material capable of exchanging electrons with a contacting external member and having conductivity and gas permeability. And a conductive surface portion capable of exchanging electrons with an external member are formed so as to be partitioned, and the conductive surface portion serves as the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, and the water repellent surface portion. So that the intermediate layer portion,
The electrode base material was bent and laminated.

In the electrode according to claim 3, electrons are transferred between the water-repellent surface core material portion which has been rendered water-repellent by the water-repellent resin coating to the conductive core material and the external member. Is formed by partitioning a conductive surface core material part capable of forming a water-repellent surface core material part of the core material into a water-repellent surface part of the electrode base material, and the conductive surface core material part of the core material is the electrode. The electrode base material was formed by woven or knitting the core material so as to become the conductive surface portion of the base material.

In the electrode according to claim 4, the conductive surface of the core material is formed by coating the core material surface with conductive particles having corrosion resistance.

Further, claim 5 for achieving the above object.
The means adopted in the electrode described above is an electrode facing each other with an electrolyte interposed, and a core material having conductivity is formed with a coating layer of a water-repellent resin in which conductive particles are dispersed, and the core material having the coating layer. The essence is to woven or knit.

[0015]

The electrode having the above-mentioned structure according to claim 1, when incorporated into an electrolyte, in the first layer portion on the electrolyte side,
It is in close contact with the electrolyte or with a so-called catalyst layer formed in close contact with the electrolyte. Since this first layer portion is located on the electrolyte side, it is possible to participate in the generation of ions and electrode-generating substances that permeate the electrolyte, and in the case of a fuel cell, the hydrogen ions and water in the above formula. is there. On the other hand, since the outermost layer portion that faces the first layer portion with the intermediate layer portion interposed therebetween is located at the outermost portion of the electrode, that is, on the side opposite to the electrolyte side, it is involved in the transfer of electrons with the external member Is possible.

Since the outermost layer portion and the first layer portion are formed by using an electrode base material having conductivity which is capable of exchanging electrons with an external member contacting them, the first layer portion is formed. In that case, electrons can be exchanged with the electrolyte or the catalyst layer, and with the outermost layer, electrons can be exchanged with an external member such as a current collector. Moreover, since the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion are formed so as to be electrically connected to each other, in the case of the fuel cell, the electrons that are generated along with the hydrogen ions due to the progress of the reaction of the formula are the first layer as free electrons. From the department to the outermost layer,
It is delivered to an external member such as a current collector that comes into contact with the outermost layer without any trouble. In addition, the electrons are transferred from the external member to the outermost layer without any trouble, and the transferred electrons move from the outermost layer to the first layer to be used in the reaction of the type. That is, the exchange of electrons with the outside is performed without loss. In this case, the transfer of electrons without loss is not limited to the fuel cell, but other devices having electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte, for example, electrons are supplied to electrolyze water to generate hydrogen (gas) and oxygen (gas). Needless to say, it can be seen even in a hydrogen / oxygen generator that produces hydrogen.

Further, the electrode according to claim 1 comprises, in addition to the above-mentioned first layer portion and outermost layer portion, an intermediate layer portion laminated on the first layer portion on the side opposite to the electrolyte side, The intermediate layer portion is located between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Since this intermediate layer portion is formed of a member having water repellency and gas permeability, between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion,
Naturally exhibits water repellency and gas permeability.

In the electrode according to the first aspect, the intermediate layer portion can be separated from the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion.

The electrode according to claim 2 is formed by partitioning a water-repellent surface portion and a conductive surface portion on a continuous electrode substrate having conductivity and gas permeability, and bending this continuous electrode substrate. By laminating, the conductive surface portion is the electrically conductive first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, and the water repellent surface portion is the intermediate layer portion between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Electrons can be exchanged between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion that are electrically connected to each other, and the electrons can be exchanged with the outside without loss. Since the water-repellent surface part, which is the intermediate layer part, has a water-repellent surface and is a part of the electrode substrate, the water-repellent property and the gas permeability are between the first layer part and the outermost layer part. To exert.

The electrode according to the second aspect can be formed from one continuous electrode base material. In addition, since the continuous electrode base material itself can transfer and receive electrons to and from the external member, no special treatment is required for forming the conductive surface portion, and the water-repellent surface portion is formed in the partition formation region. Then, water repellency treatment may be performed to impart water repellency to the surface of the region. In this case, in forming the conductive surface portion by partitioning, the partitioning region of the electrode base material may be subjected to a conductivity imparting treatment for coating the conductive particles having corrosion resistance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an electroconductive core material having a water-repellent surface core material portion and a conductive surface core material portion formed by division is woven or knitted to form an electrode base material. The water-repellent surface core material portion is the water-repellent surface portion of the electrode base material, and the conductive surface core material portion of the core material is the conductive surface portion of the electrode base material. Since the core material itself has conductivity, the electrode base material formed by woven or knitting the core material becomes a continuous electrode base material having conductivity and gas permeability, and naturally water repellent. The electrode base material is provided with the surface portion and the conductive surface portion partitioned. Further, since the core material is woven or knitted, the electrode according to claim 3 does not hinder gas permeation through the electrode.

In this case, when the core material is woven or knitted, a plain weave or a twill weave, a non-crimp weave which is an example of a weave without bending caused by the crossing of the yarns, and a weft yarn 60 from the left and right of the warp yarn It is possible to use a woven cloth method such as triaxial weaving in which the cloth is crossed at a crossing angle of ° C. or a knitting method such as knit knitting or pile knitting. In addition, the water repellent surface of the core material and the water repellent surface portion of the electrode base material,
Conducting surface of the core material When the core material is used as the conductive surface of the electrode base material, the size (area) of the electrode, the number of layers in the intermediate layer, the area occupied by the water repellent surface and the conductive surface, etc., The woven method and knitting method to be used may be taken into consideration.

Since the electrode according to claim 4 is formed by coating the conductive surface of the core material with conductive particles having corrosion resistance, the core material can be made of various metals that are good conductors.

The electrode according to the fifth aspect is manufactured by woven or knitting the core material, in which the coating layer of the conductive core material is a layer of water-repellent resin in which conductive particles are dispersed. Therefore, the electrode according to claim 5 exhibits electrical conductivity and water repellency with respect to the outside, which is exhibited by the coating layer itself of the core material, and also exhibits electrical conductivity and water repellency with respect to the outside as the electrode itself. To do. Moreover, since the conductive particles are dispersed in the layer of the water-repellent resin, the conductivity and the water-repellency are uniformly exerted on the surface of the electrode instead of being unevenly distributed. Further, since the core material is woven or knitted, the electrode according to claim 5 is
Does not interfere with gas permeation through the electrodes. In this case, if the conductive particles have corrosion resistance, the core material can be made of various metals that are good conductors.

[0025]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above. In the following description, an example in which the electrode according to the present invention is applied to an electrode of a fuel cell (solid polymer fuel cell) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the cell structure of the fuel cell in this example. As shown, the cell is an electrolyte membrane 10 that is a membrane-like electrolyte.
An anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12 and a cathode-side catalytic reaction layer 14 that are in close contact with the membrane surface of the electrolyte membrane 10, and an anode 20 and a cathode 30 having a multilayer structure (four-layer structure) that are in close contact with each of these catalytic reaction layers. Current collectors 40, 42 in close contact with each pole
And a separator 44 for partitioning each cell.

The electrolyte membrane 10 is a polymer cation exchange membrane having a sulfone group as an ion exchange group for hydrogen ions (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a cation exchange membrane), and selectively selects hydrogen ions along the thickness direction. See through. More specifically, the electrolyte membrane 10 is a cation exchange membrane (for example, a perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid polymer membrane (trade name: Nafion, manufactured by Du Pont Co.)) made of a fluorine-based sulfonic acid polymer resin, The film thickness is about 100 μm.

The anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12 and the cathode-side catalytic reaction layer 14 are interposed between an anode 20, a cathode 30 and an electrolyte membrane 10, which will be described later, and are subjected to hot pressing to form a film of the electrolyte membrane 10. And the film surface of each electrode. The anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12 and the cathode-side catalytic reaction layer 14 were aggregated and laminated such that carbon particles carrying 20 wt% of platinum as a catalyst were 0.4 mg / cm ² with respect to the membrane surface of the electrolyte membrane 10. It is a carbon particle agglomeration layer, which is applied to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 10 or the surface of the electrode film prior to hot pressing, and is manufactured through subsequent hot pressing.

The anode 20 includes a first electrode layer portion 21, a second electrode layer portion 22, a third electrode layer portion 23, and an outermost electrode layer portion 24, which are in close contact with the anode side catalytic reaction layer 12 from the electrolyte membrane 10 side. Have a four-layer structure in which they are stacked in this order. Also, the cathode 30
Also the first electrode layer portion 31 that adheres to the cathode side catalytic reaction layer 14
The second electrode layer portion 32, the third electrode layer portion 33, and the outermost electrode layer portion 34 are laminated in this order to have a four-layer structure. In addition,
In FIG. 1, the anode 20 schematically shows how the layers are laminated, and the cathode 30 schematically shows how the layers are formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the anode 20 and the cathode 30 have a continuous electrode base material 50 for each electrode area, for example, if the electrode area is L ² cm ² (Lcm × Lcm), Lcm. The width of the electrode base material 50, and the creases 5 for each Lcm
It is bent at 1 and folded in a so-called bellows shape. When the electrode base material 50 is folded in this manner, the fold line 51 is formed.
Of the base material parts 50a to 50d partitioned by, the base material part 50a is the anode 20, the first electrode layer portion 21 of the cathode 30,
31, the base material part 50b becomes the second electrode layer portions 22 and 32 of the anode 20 and the cathode 30, the base material part 50c becomes the third electrode layer portions 23 and 33 of the anode 20 and the cathode 30, and the base material part 50d becomes Outermost electrode layer portion 2 of anode 20 and cathode 30
4,34. The production of the electrode base material 50, by extension, the anode 20 and the cathode 30 will be described later.

The current collectors 40 and 42 are made of porous carbon having gas permeability and have a porosity of 30 to 40%. In addition, the current collector 40
Is formed with a flow path 41 for oxygen-containing gas as anode fuel and a water collecting path for water generated at the anode 20, and the current collector 42 is provided with hydrogen-containing gas as cathode fuel. A flow path 43 for a mixed gas of hydrogen and water vapor (humidified hydrogen gas) is formed. The separator 44 is formed of gas-impermeable carbon that is made gas-impermeable by compressing carbon, and includes an electrolyte membrane 10, an anode 20, a cathode 30, and a current collector 4.
It forms a partition wall when the cells composed of 0 and 42 are stacked. Although the current collectors 40 and 42 and the separator 44 are formed as separate bodies in this embodiment, the current collector 40 and the separator 44 are integrally formed by gas impermeable carbon, or the current collector 42 and the separator 44 are formed. In which the gas is impermeable to carbon are integrally formed, current collectors 40 and 4
It is also preferable that the separator 2 and the separator 44 are integrally formed of gas impermeable carbon.

Next, a method of manufacturing the anode 20 and the cathode 30 will be described. First, the electrode base material 50 for forming the anode 20 and the cathode 30 will be described. Electrode base material 50
Is a woven fabric in which a warp yarn material and a weft yarn material are plain woven with a dimension of 2 mm, as shown in an enlarged schematic view of the X portion of FIG. In this case, the warp yarn material 52 is woven along the longitudinal direction of the electrode base material 50, and the weft yarn material 53 is woven so as to intersect with the warp yarn material 52.

Warp yarn material 52 for weaving the electrode base material 50
As shown in FIG. 3, a copper wire 54 having a diameter of 0.5 mm is used as a core, and a coating layer (sheath) having a thickness of about 100 μm is provided on the surface thereof. The warp material 52 is used as the electrode base material 5.
Taking the length 4L of 0 (see FIG. 2) as a unit, the warp yarn material 52 is provided with a conductive sheath 55 made of a carbon paste having conductivity in the range of L from the end thereof. A water-repellent sheath 56 made of polytetrafluoroethylene having water repellency is provided over a range of 2 L between the sex sheaths.

As shown in FIG. 4, the warp yarn material 52 having the sheath having different properties is manufactured by the coextrusion molding method. That is, the copper wire 54 is pushed into the die 70 having a built-in heating device from the entry port 71, and while the copper wire 54 passes through the die 70, the resin extruding device 72 or the carbon paste extruding device 73 is used to make a semi-molten poly wire. A carbon paste 77 containing tetrafluoroethylene 76 or carbon particles,
The hydraulic rams 74 and 75 pressurize and push out. Then, the pressure extrusion of the polytetrafluoroethylene 76 from the resin extrusion device 72 and the pressure extrusion of the carbon paste 77 from the carbon paste extrusion device 73 are alternately arranged at equal intervals (intervals at which a sheath having a length of 2 L is obtained). ) Repeat. The copper wire 54 is heated while passing through the die 70 and after passing through the die 70, and the copper wire 54 passing through the die 70 is wound up by a winding device (not shown). By co-extruding the copper wire 54, the polytetrafluoroethylene 76, and the carbon paste 77 in this manner, the warp material 52 having the conductive sheath 55 and the water-repellent sheath 56 alternately on the copper wire 54 in the length of 2 L each. Is completed.

During the pressure extrusion of the polytetrafluoroethylene 76, the carbon paste 77 is not extruded from the carbon paste extruding device 73, and only the polytetrafluoroethylene 76 extruded under pressure is applied to the copper wire 54. It is coated as a water repellent sheath 56. Similarly, during the pressure extrusion of the carbon paste 77,
Polytetrafluoroethylene 76 is not extruded from the resin extruding device 72, and only the carbon paste 77 extruded under pressure is coated on the copper wire 54 as the conductive sheath 55.

Next, the warp yarn material 52 is supplied as a warp yarn to a plain weaving loom (not shown), is plain-woven with the weft yarn material 53, and is woven with the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53 as shown in FIG. Object 57 is obtained. In this woven cloth 57, the conductive sheaths 55 and the water-repellent sheaths 56 of each warp yarn material 52 are alternately shown by 2L. Then, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, the woven cloth 57 is attached to the conductive sheath 55.
Cut along the weft thread material 53 in the middle of the area of
By cutting along the warp yarn material 52, the electrode base material 50 having a width L and a length 4L is completed.

In this case, the weft thread material 53 is used properly according to the nature of the sheath of the warp thread material 52. That is, the warp yarn material 52
In the range in which the conductive sheath 55 is plain woven, the weft material 5 in which only the conductive sheath 55 is provided on the copper wire 54
3 is used, and in the range of plain weaving in the water repellent sheath 56 portion of the warp yarn 52, the weft yarn member 53 provided with only the water repellent sheath 56 is used for the copper wire 54. That is, the conductive sheath 55 of the warp yarn material 52 and the water-repellent sheath 5
At the switching portion of 6, the warp yarn material 52 is selectively used by the weft yarn exchanging device of the plain weaving loom.

The electrode base material 50 thus completed is shown in FIG.
As is clear from FIG. 5, the base material parts 50 at both ends thereof
a and 50d become regions where the conductive sheath 55 of the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53 is exposed, and the base material parts 50b and 50
c is the water-repellent sheath 56 of the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53.
Is the exposed area. Therefore, as described above, the anode 20 formed by folding the electrode base material 50 in a bellows shape.
The first electrode layer portion 21 becomes an exposed region of the conductive sheath 55, so that the electrode layer portion is electrically conductive to the outside, and the first electrode layer portion 21 is electrically connected to the anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12. . Further, in the anode 20, the outermost electrode layer portion 24 becomes the exposed region of the conductive sheath 55, so that the electrode layer portion is electrically conductive to the outside, and the outermost electrode layer portion 24 serves as the current collector 40. Conduct. In addition, the anode 20 electrically connects the first electrode layer portion 21 and the outermost electrode layer portion 24 through the copper wire 54 of the warp yarn material 52 and the conductive sheath 55 in a good electrical manner, and at the same time, the first electrode layer. The second electrode layer portion 22 and the third electrode layer portion 23 between the portion 21 and the outermost electrode layer portion 24 exhibit water repellency through the exposure of the water repellent sheath 56. That is, the anode 20 is an electrode having both water repellency and conductivity. Moreover, in the anode 20, the electrode base material 50 is the warp yarn material 5.
Since it is a woven fabric of 2 and the weft material 53, it has excellent gas permeability. The same applies to the cathode 30.

The above-mentioned electrolyte membrane 10, anode 20, cathode 3
In order to manufacture a fuel cell (cell) from 0 or the like, first, the plain weave fabric made of the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53, and the cut electrode base material 50 are folded into a bellows shape as described above to form the anode 20 and the anode 20. The cathode 30 is formed. Then, carbon particles carrying 20 wt% of platinum as a catalyst are coated at a rate of 0.4 mg / cm ^{2 on} the surfaces of the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31 of the anode 20 and the cathode 30 or the surface of the electrolyte membrane 10, 20, the electrolyte membrane 10 is sandwiched between the anode 20 and the cathode 30 so that the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31 of the cathode 30 are on the electrolyte membrane 10 side, and these are hot-pressed (120 ° C., 100 kg
/ Cm ² ). After that, the current collectors 40 and 42 and the separator 44 are closely attached and assembled.

In the thus constructed fuel cell, when fuel gas (humidified hydrogen gas, oxygen gas) is supplied to the respective electrodes from the flow paths 41, 43 of the current collectors 40, 42, the supplied fuel gas becomes The outermost electrode layer portions 24 and 34 of the anode 20 and the cathode 30 to the second electrode layer portions 22 and 32 and the third electrode layer portions 23 and 3
After passing through 3, the light is transmitted (diffused) to the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31.
At this time, due to the fact that it is a woven fabric, the anode 20 and the cathode 3
Since 0 has extremely good gas permeability, the fuel gas can be smoothly diffused from the outermost electrode layer portions 24, 34 to the first electrode layer portions 21, 31 without any trouble.

The fuel gas diffused in the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31 reaches the anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12 and the cathode-side catalytic reaction layer 14 which are in close contact with these electrode layer portions, and in the catalytic reaction layers. , The reaction represented by the above formula. This reaction is carried out by the anode side catalytic reaction layer 12 and the cathode side catalytic reaction layer 14.
Is promoted by the catalytic action of. On the cathode 30 side,
Hydrogen ions generated by the progress of the reaction of the formula are H ⁺ (
_x H ₂ O) permeates (diffuses) the electrolyte membrane 10 in the hydrated state,
The hydrogen ions that have permeated the membrane are subjected to the reaction of the formula at the anode 20.

More specifically, the free electrons obtained by the progress of the equation are the first electrons of the cathode side catalytic reaction layer 14 and the cathode 30.
Since the electrode layer portion 31 is electrically connected, the first
From the conductive sheath 55 of the electrode layer portion 31 to the copper wire 54
Move to. Then, the free electrons move in the copper wire 54 of the warp yarn material 52 from the first electrode layer portion 31 to the outermost electrode layer portion 34 without resistance. Since the outermost electrode layer portion 34 is electrically connected to the current collector 42, the free electrons that have moved to the outermost electrode layer portion 34 move to the current collector 42 without resistance, and the current collector 42 is connected. It reaches the collector 40 on the side of the anode 20 via an external motor or the like. In an external motor or the like, these free electrons are used for work such as rotation of the rotor.

The free electrons that have moved to the current collector 40 are electrically connected to the current collector 40 and the outermost electrode layer portion 24 of the anode 20, so that the outermost electrode layer portion of the anode 20 is resistance-free. It moves to the copper wire 54 of the warp yarn material 52 through the conductive sheath 55 of 24. Then, the free electrons pass through the copper wire 54 of the warp material 52 and form the outermost electrode layer portion 2 of the anode 20.
It moves from 4 to the first electrode layer portion 21 without resistance. Since the first electrode layer portion 21 is in conduction with the anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12, the free electrons that have moved to the first electrode layer portion 21 move to the anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12 without resistance and the electrolyte membrane 10 Together with the permeated hydrogen ions, they are used in the reaction of the formula in the anode-side catalytic reaction layer 12. As the reaction of this formula progresses, water is generated in the first electrode layer portion 21 of the anode 20.

That is, if the anode 20 and the cathode 30 of this embodiment are used, a substance which becomes a resistance when the free electrons are transferred,
For example, since there is no non-conductive water repellent material, electrons can be transferred without loss.

On the other hand, the water generated at the anode 20 and the cathode 30
Moisture in the humidified hydrogen gas supplied to is essential for keeping the electrolyte membrane 10 in a humidified state, but excess moisture at the anode 20 or moisture like dew condensation at the cathode 30 causes
It is removed from the electrode as follows. The anode 20 and the cathode 30 are the second electrode layer portions 22 and 32 and the third electrode layer portion 2
Since 3 and 33 respectively exhibit water repellency, excess water in the anode 20 or water condensed in the cathode 30 is repelled from around the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53 in the electrode layer portion, respectively. Of the current collectors 40 and 42.

Therefore, in the anode 20 and the cathode 30, inadvertent retention of water in the electrodes is prevented, and at the same time between the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31 and the outermost electrode layer portions 24 and 34 and between these electrode portions. Since good conductivity can be ensured between the collector and the current collector that come in contact with the anode 20, the cathode 30
The above-mentioned reaction can be efficiently and continuously performed. Therefore, according to the anode 20 and the cathode 30 of the present embodiment, the reaction at the electrodes can be continuously and stably performed, so that the cell characteristics and the operation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved, and the stable electric power can be obtained. Can be obtained.

Next, performance evaluation of the fuel cell of this embodiment (first embodiment) using the anode 20 and the cathode 30 will be described. The fuel cell to be compared (conventional product) is different from that of the present embodiment only in the anode and the cathode, and an electrode in which a plain weave carbon cloth is impregnated with a polytetrafluoroethylene solution to provide water repellency as the anode and the cathode. A substrate was used. Then, the IV characteristics of both fuel cells were examined. The result is shown in FIG. The electrode area is 144
It is cm ² (12 cm × 12 cm). In addition, this FIG.
In the table, the characteristics of the fuel cell in Examples described later are also listed.

As is clear from FIG. 6, the fuel cell of the first embodiment was superior in characteristics to the fuel cell of the comparative example over the entire current density of the measurement range. From this,
As described above, it was confirmed that the fuel cell characteristics were improved by the anode 20 and the cathode 30 having both water repellency and conductivity.

Further, since the anode 20 and the cathode 30 can be formed by folding one continuous electrode base material 50, parts (electrode base material) can be easily managed and the manufacturing process thereof can be simplified. You can Further, in the anode 20 and the cathode 30, the base material part 5 in the continuous electrode base material 50 is used.
For 0a and 50d, it is not necessary to remove the water repellency. Therefore, according to the anode 20 and the cathode 30, the manufacturing process can be simplified by omitting the process (water repellency removing process).

Further, in the anode 20 and the cathode 30, when the base material parts 50b and 50c exhibit water repellency,
The copper wire 54 is merely covered with the water-repellent sheath 56 and the woven fabric of the warp yarn material 52 and the weft yarn material 53. Therefore, since the anode 20 and the cathode 30 do not require a water-repellent treatment such as impregnation of water-repellent resin and spray after the woven cloth, the texture of the woven cloth is clogged with the resin and gas permeation is inhibited. The electrode having excellent gas diffusibility is obtained.

Moreover, in the anode 20 and the cathode 30, since the copper wire 54 is covered with the conductive sheath 55 containing carbon particles having corrosion resistance, corrosion of the copper wire 54 as the core material can be avoided. For this reason, the anode 20 and the cathode 30 are electrodes that are superior in conductivity and strength and durability, as compared with the conventional electrodes made of carbon cloth.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. In this second embodiment, the electrodes are formed as follows. First, the woven fabric 57 shown in FIG. 5 is cut along the alternate long and short dash line in the figure to obtain the electrode base material 50. That is, the woven cloth 57 is cut along the weft thread 53 at the boundary between the region of the conductive sheath 55 and the region of the water repellent sheath 56, and further, the width L
Is cut along the warp yarn material 52. Then, the electrode base material 50 having a width of L and a length of 4 L is cut off. In the electrode base material 50, the base material part 50a shown in FIG. The conductive sheath 55 of the weft thread material 53 becomes an exposed area, and the base material part 50c and the base material part 50d adjacent thereto are the warp thread material 52 and the weft thread material 5.
This is an area where the water-repellent sheath 56 of No. 3 is exposed. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, in the electrode base material 50, the base material part 50a and the base material part 50b are located on the surface, and the base material part 50c and the base material part 50d are the base material part 50a and the base material part 50b. When sequentially folded so as to be located between the two, the electrodes 78 in which the respective base material parts are laminated are formed.

Even in the electrode 78 of the second embodiment, like the anode 20 and the cathode 30 of the first embodiment described above, the first
An electrode layer portion, a second electrode layer portion, a third electrode layer portion, and an outermost electrode layer portion are laminated and provided, and the first electrode layer portion (base material part 50a) and the outermost electrode layer portion (base material part 50b). ) Is an exposed region of the conductive sheath 55, and thus exhibits conductivity to the outside. Further, the first electrode layer portion and the outermost electrode layer portion are electrically satisfactorily conducted through the copper wire 54 of the warp material 52 and the conductive sheath 55, and
A second electrode layer part (base material part 50c) and a third electrode layer part (base material part 50d) between the electrode layer part and the outermost electrode layer part.
Exhibits water repellency through the exposure of the water repellent sheath 56. That is, even the electrode 78 formed by folding the electrode base material 50 as shown in FIG. 7 is an electrode having both water repellency and conductivity, and an electrode having excellent gas permeability because it is a woven material. Becomes Therefore, the same effects as those of the electrodes (anode 20, cathode 30) of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a modified example of the electrode 78 of the second embodiment will be described. In this modification, the conductive sheath 5
An electrode base material 60 in which a copper wire 54 having only 5 is woven as warp threads and weft threads, and an intermediate base material 61 having water repellency and gas permeability are separately prepared. As the intermediate base material 61, a woven fabric in which a copper wire 54 having only a water-repellent sheath 56 is woven as warp and weft, a water-repellent carbon cloth, and a water-repellent treatment are applied. A woven fabric or a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, and the like, which are made of non-conductive fibers, can be exemplified. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the electrode base material 60 is bent in a dogleg shape, the intermediate base material 61 is inserted into the opening, and the intermediate base material 61 is sandwiched between the electrode base materials 60 from both sides and pressed. Then the electrode 80
To form.

The electrode 80 thus formed also includes the first electrode layer portion (one piece of the electrode base material 60), the second electrode layer portion (intermediate base material 61) and the outermost electrode layer portion (the other piece of the electrode base material 60). ) Are laminated, and the first electrode layer portion and the outermost electrode layer portion are exposed regions of the conductive sheath 55, and thus exhibit conductivity to the outside. Further, the first electrode layer portion and the outermost electrode layer portion are electrically well connected to each other through the copper wire 54 and the conductive sheath 55 in the warp or the weft, and at the same time, the first electrode layer portion and the outermost electrode layer portion. The second electrode layer portion between the electrode layer portion and the electrode layer portion exhibits water repellency. Therefore, the electrode 80 formed from the electrode base material 60 and the intermediate base material 61 separate from this base material
Even in this case, it becomes an electrode having both water repellency and conductivity. Moreover, the electrode base material 60 is a woven material, and is an intermediate base material 61.
Since the electrode 80 has gas permeability from the beginning, the electrode 80 of this modified example becomes an electrode having excellent gas permeability, and the same effect as the electrodes of the first and second examples can be obtained.

Further, in the electrode 80 of this modification, the intermediate base material 61 for exhibiting water repellency may be separated from the electrode base material 60 for forming the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Therefore, the electrode base material 60 does not require a treatment for imparting water repellency. Therefore, according to the electrode 80, it is possible to easily manufacture an electrode having both water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside. In particular, since the intermediate base material 61 can be a woven fabric or a knitted product of resin fibers having water repellency, for example, fluorine fibers themselves, water repellency treatment itself is not necessary, and can be manufactured more easily. You can

Next, the third embodiment will be described. In manufacturing the electrode in the third embodiment, first, the following core material is prepared. That is, in the core material of the third embodiment, a copper wire having a diameter of 0.5 mm is used as a core, and a sheath of a fluororesin solution (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene) in which carbon particles are dispersed (carbon particle dispersion sheath) is provided on the surface thereof. It has a thickness of about 100 μm.
To form this carbon particle dispersion sheath, 60 wt% of carbon particles and 40 of polytetrafluoroethylene solution are used.
Prepare a paste that is mixed with wt% and stirred, and
Similar to the formation of No. 2, the copper wire and the paste may be coextruded. By this co-extrusion, a core material having a carbon particle-dispersed sheath on the surface of the copper wire is created. Then, the core material is woven or knitted and cut to fit the electrode area to obtain a thin electrode (third embodiment electrode). Since carbon particles having conductivity are dispersed in polytetrafluoroethylene having water repellency in the carbon particle dispersion sheath of the core material forming the electrode of the third embodiment, the electrode of the third embodiment is Through the carbon particle-dispersed sheath, conductivity and water repellency are uniformly exhibited without uneven distribution on the surface, and the electrode has both conductivity and water repellency. Moreover, since the electrode of the third embodiment is a woven fabric of the core material, it is an electrode having both conductivity and water repellency and excellent gas permeability. The same effect as the electrode can be obtained.

Regarding a fuel cell (third embodiment fuel cell) using the third embodiment electrode as an anode and a cathode, IV
When the characteristics were examined, the characteristics shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6 were obtained. As is apparent from FIG. 6, even in the fuel cell of the third embodiment, characteristics similar to those of the fuel cell of the first embodiment are obtained,
It was superior to the fuel cell of the comparative example over the entire current density of the measurement range. From this, since the electrode of the third embodiment is an electrode having both water repellency and conductivity like the anode 20 and the cathode 30 in the first embodiment, the fuel cell characteristics can be improved. I can say.

Further, in the third embodiment electrode, since the woven cloth of the core material having water repellency is used, the water repellency imparting treatment in the state of the woven material, for example, impregnation and spray of water repellant resin is carried out. Etc. are not required. Therefore, the third embodiment electrode is
Since the weave of the woven cloth is not clogged with the resin to impede gas permeation, the electrode has excellent gas diffusibility.

Moreover, according to the electrode of the third embodiment, since it can be used as an electrode in a state where it is passed through the woven cloth of the core material, the subsequent steps, for example, the water repellency imparting step, the water repellency removing step, and the folding step Therefore, the simplification of the manufacturing process can be further promoted.

Next, a modified fourth electrode of the third embodiment electrode is used.
Example electrodes will be described. The fourth embodiment electrode is
After the completion of the above-mentioned third embodiment electrode, the following processing is performed.
That is, the surface of the electrode of the third embodiment is coated with carbon particles that have been subjected to water repellent treatment with polytetrafluoroethylene, and the carbon particles are laminated to form a fourth embodiment electrode. Since the electrode of the fourth embodiment uses a woven fabric of a core material having a copper wire with a diameter of 0.5 mm as a core, even if the carbon particles are applied, the carbon particles do not clog the weave and the weave of the weave. Laminate in the recess at the intersection. Therefore, according to the electrode of the fourth embodiment, the contact state with the electrolyte or the catalyst layer and the external member can be brought into a state close to surface contact on the electrode surface, so that the contact resistance with the catalytic reaction layer and the current collector is reduced. Can be reduced.

Regarding a fuel cell (fourth embodiment fuel cell) using the fourth embodiment electrode as an anode and a cathode, IV
When the characteristics were examined, the characteristics indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6 were obtained. As is apparent from FIG. 6, the fourth embodiment fuel cell obtained characteristics superior to those of the third embodiment fuel cell. From this, it is considered that the fuel cell characteristics could be improved because the electrode of the fourth embodiment has both water repellency and conductivity and has low contact resistance. In this fourth embodiment electrode, if the carbon particles coated on the surface of the electrode are carbon particles carrying a catalyst such as platinum,
Electrode reaction due to a catalyst is preferred and preferred.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

For example, in producing the warp yarn material 52 of the copper wire 54 having the conductive sheath 55 for exhibiting the conductivity and the water repellent sheath 56 for exhibiting the water repellency alternately, it was done as follows. The carbon paste 77 was not extruded during the pressure extrusion of the polytetrafluoroethylene 76, and the polytetrafluoroethylene 76 was not extruded during the pressure extrusion of the carbon paste 77. However, the carbon paste 77 is always extruded to uniformly provide the copper wire 54 with the conductive sheath 55, and the polytetrafluoroethylene 76 is extruded intermittently to the copper wire 54 having the conductive sheath 55. Alternatively, the conductive sheath 55 and the water repellent sheath 56 may be alternately exposed on the surface to form the warp yarn material 52. In this case, the water-repellent sheath 56
In the range where is exposed, the copper wire 54 has a two-layered sheath consisting of a conductive sheath 55 and a water-repellent sheath 56 that covers the surface.

In the electrode base material 50 used for forming the electrode having both water repellency and conductivity, the region having conductivity and the region having water repellency are divided and formed. The weft material 53 was used separately according to the section, that is, the copper wire 54 having only the conductive sheath 55 and the copper wire 54 having only the water-repellent sheath 56, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the warp material 52 having the electrically conductive sheath 55 and the water repellent sheath 56 alternately provides the electrode base material 50 with a region exhibiting conductivity and a region exhibiting water repellency regardless of the nature of the sheath of the weft yarn material 53. Therefore, the weft thread material 53 used for the woven cloth may be only the copper wire 54 having only the conductive sheath 55. In this way, it is not necessary to use the weft thread material 53 properly, so that the electrode manufacturing process can be simplified.

Further, although the core material for forming the electrode is the copper wire 54 as the core, other good conductive metal,
For example, nickel, titanium, aluminum or the like can be used. Further, instead of the copper wire 54, a sliver, which is an aggregate of carbon fibers, or a twisted yarn of carbon fibers can be used. In this case, since the sliver and the twist yarn have the corrosion resistance and the conductivity because the carbon fiber is used, only the water-repellent sheath may be intermittently provided on the sliver and the twist yarn. By doing so, it is possible to obtain an electrode that is not only lightweight but also has excellent corrosion resistance and durability.

Further, as the electrode base material, carbon cloth generally used in the past can be used. In this case, the electrode base material shown in FIG. 2 is formed from carbon cloth, and the water-repellent resin is used as the base material part 5 of this carbon cloth.
It is sufficient to impregnate only the range of 0b and 50c. Incidentally, it goes without saying that the carbon cloth is not clogged during the impregnation with the water-repellent resin.

In the fourth embodiment electrode, carbon particles were laminated in the recess of the electrode surface, but the anode 2 in the first embodiment was used.
0 or the recesses on the electrode side surface of the first electrode layer portions 21 and 31 of the cathode 30 or on the current collector side surface of the outermost electrode layer portions 24 and 34,
It is also possible to stack carbon particles or carbon particles carrying a catalyst.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the fuel cell (solid polymer fuel cell) to which the electrode of the present invention is applied has been described as an example, but various types of phosphoric acid fuel cells, alkaline fuel cells, etc. It can also be applied to the electrodes used in the battery. In addition, a device having the same structure as the fuel cell but having a reverse chemical reaction, for example, a so-called water electrolyzer or hydrogen generating device having the same structure as the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the embodiment but having a reverse chemical reaction It can also be implemented in devices and the like and the electrodes used in these devices. Further, the electrode of the present invention can be used not only for an energy conversion device such as a fuel cell, but also as an electrode for a device not intended for energy conversion or a device not performing energy conversion.

[0069]

As described above, in the electrode according to claim 1, the first layer portion, the intermediate layer portion, and the outermost layer portion are laminated from the electrolyte side, and the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion are By forming these using an electrode base material that can transfer electrons to and from external members and has conductivity and gas permeability, it can transfer electrons to and from external members without difficulty Exert. Moreover, by electrically connecting the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, the movement of electrons is not hindered between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Further, assuming that the intermediate layer portion located between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion has water repellency and gas permeability, water repellency and gas are provided between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Demonstrate transparency. As a result, the electrode according to claim 1 becomes an electrode having both water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside.

Therefore, according to the electrode of claim 1,
It is possible to smoothly proceed the electrode reaction in each electrode through prevention of water retention in the electrode due to water repellency and high electrical conductivity with the outside. Can be improved.

Further, in the electrode according to claim 1, the intermediate layer portion can be separated from the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. Therefore, the electrode substrate for forming the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion is formed. The material does not require treatment for imparting water repellency. Therefore,
According to the electrode of the first aspect, it is possible to easily manufacture an electrode having both water repellency for preventing retention of moisture in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside.

In the electrode according to the second aspect, the electrical connection between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion and the transfer of electrons to the outside between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion without hindrance are provided to the external member. It is ensured by using a continuous electrode base material capable of exchanging electrons with and having conductivity and gas permeability. On the other hand, regarding the intermediate layer portion between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, water repellency is expressed by using the water repellent surface portion partitioned and formed on the continuous electrode base material as the intermediate layer portion. . As a result, claim 2
Even the electrode described above is an electrode having both water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside.

Further, according to the electrode of the second aspect, since it can be formed from one continuous electrode base material, management of parts (electrode base material) is facilitated and the manufacturing process thereof can be simplified. . Further, in the electrode according to claim 2, since the continuous electrode base material itself can exchange electrons with the external member, the water-repellent treatment is applied only to the partition formation region of the water-repellent surface portion. Water repellency may be imparted to the surface of the region. For this reason, it is not necessary to remove the water repellency in the partition forming region of the conductive surface portion.
According to the described electrode, the manufacturing process can be simplified by omitting the process (water repellency removing process).

According to the electrode of the third aspect, electrical conduction between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion and transfer of electrons to and from the outside between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion without hindrance are carried out. This is ensured by forming an electrode base material by weaving or knitting a conductive core material in which a water-repellent surface core material portion and a conductive surface core material portion are partitioned and formed. On the other hand, with respect to the intermediate layer portion between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, the water repellent surface core material portion partitioned and formed in the conductive core material is used as the intermediate layer portion to develop water repellency. . As a result, even the electrode according to claim 3 is an electrode having both water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside.

In order to obtain the water repellency of the intermediate layer portion, the electrode according to the third aspect is merely subjected to the partition formation of the water repellent surface core material in the state of the core material and the woven or knitting of the core material. In addition, there is no need for water repellency imparting treatment in the state of woven fabric and knitted fabric, such as impregnation of water repellent resin and spraying. Therefore, according to the electrode of claim 3,
The resin does not spread into the gaps between the core materials and does not impede gas permeation through the electrodes. Therefore, the electrode according to claim 3 is an electrode having excellent gas diffusivity.

In the electrode according to claim 4, since the conductive surface of the core material is formed by coating the core material portion with the conductive particles having corrosion resistance, the core material can be corroded even if it is made of various metals which are good conductors. Absent. Therefore, the electrode according to claim 4 is an electrode having excellent electrical conductivity between the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, as well as excellent strength and durability.

In the electrode according to claim 5, the conductive core material is coated with a coating layer of a water-repellent resin in which conductive particles are dispersed, and the coating material itself is woven or knitted to obtain the coating layer itself. Thus, electrical conductivity with the outside as an electrode and water repellency are uniformly exhibited on the electrode surface. Further, since the core material has been woven or knitted, the electrode according to claim 5 requires a water repellent imparting treatment in the state of the woven material and the knitted material, for example, impregnation of water repellent resin, spraying and the like. Not. Therefore, according to the electrode of the fifth aspect, the resin does not spread in the gap between the core materials, and gas permeation through the electrode is not hindered. Therefore, the electrode according to claim 5 is
The electrode has both excellent water repellency for preventing water from staying in the electrode and high electrical conductivity with the outside, and also has excellent gas diffusibility.

According to the electrode of claim 5, the woven fabric of the core material coated with the coating layer, or the woven fabric or the knitted fabric after the knitting can be used as it is as an electrode. No steps are required after the knitting, and the simplification of the manufacturing process can be further promoted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cell structure of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a plan view and a partially enlarged schematic view of an electrode base material 50 for forming an anode 20 and a cathode 30, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a warp material 52 per unit length for weaving the electrode base material 50.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining a manufacturing process of the warp yarn material 52.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for obtaining the electrode base material 50 from a woven fabric woven from a warp yarn material 52 and a weft yarn material 53.

FIG. 6 is a graph for explaining comparative evaluation of cell characteristics of a fuel cell using an electrode of an example and a fuel cell of a comparative example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a manufacturing process of the electrode 78 of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of an electrode 80 that is a modified example of the electrode 78.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electrolyte membrane 12 ... Anode side catalytic reaction layer 14 ... Cathode side catalytic reaction layer 20 ... Anode 21, 31 ... 1st electrode layer part 22, 32 ... 2nd electrode layer part 23, 33 ... 3rd electrode layer part 24, 34 ... Outermost electrode layer part 30 ... Cathode 40, 42 ... Current collector 41, 43 ... Flow path 44 ... Separator 50 ... Electrode base material 50a-50d ... Base material part 51 ... Crease 52 ... Warp thread material 53 ... Weft thread material 54 ... Copper wire 55 ... Conductive sheath 56 ... Water repellent sheath 57 ... Woven fabric 60 ... Electrode base material 61 ... Intermediate base material 70 ... Die 78 ... Electrode 80 ... Electrode

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Electrodes facing each other with an electrolyte interposed therebetween, a first layer portion on the electrolyte side, an intermediate layer portion laminated on the first layer portion on the side opposite to the electrolyte side, and the intermediate layer. An outermost layer portion laminated on the intermediate layer portion so as to face the first layer portion with a portion sandwiched therebetween, the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion being the first layer portion or the outermost layer. Formed by using an electrode base material having conductivity and gas permeability capable of giving and receiving electrons to and from an external member in contact with the outermost layer, and electrically connecting the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion. And the intermediate layer portion is a member having water repellency and gas permeability. 2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein a continuous electrode base material capable of giving and receiving electrons to and from an external member which is in contact, and having conductivity and gas permeability has a water repellent surface. A water repellent surface portion and a conductive surface portion capable of giving and receiving electrons to and from an external member are partitioned and formed, and the conductive surface portion serves as the first layer portion and the outermost layer portion, and An electrode in which the electrode base material is bent and laminated so that the water repellent surface portion becomes the intermediate layer portion. 3. The electrode according to claim 2, wherein a conductive water-repellent core material has a water-repellent surface core material portion which has water-repellency due to a water-repellent resin coating, and an external member. Is formed by partitioning a conductive surface core material portion capable of electron transfer with, so that the water-repellent surface core material portion of the core material becomes the water-repellent surface portion of the electrode base material, and the conductive surface core material of the core material An electrode in which the core material is woven or knitted to form the electrode base material so that the portion becomes the conductive surface portion of the electrode base material. 4. The electrode according to claim 3, wherein the conductive surface of the core material has a core material portion coated with conductive particles having corrosion resistance. 5. Electrodes facing each other across an electrolyte, wherein a coating layer of a water-repellent resin in which conductive particles are dispersed is formed on a conductive core material, and the core material having the coating layer is woven or A knitted electrode.