KR101875684B1 - Cylinderical Fuel Cell and Manufacturing Method Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cylindrical fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical fuel cell comprising: a first electrode body forming step of forming a first electrode body by forming a conductive material into a cylindrical shape; An electrolyte layer forming step of forming an electrolyte layer on an outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body formed in a cylindrical shape in the first electrode body forming step; A second electrode body forming step of forming a second electrode body on the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer formed in the electrolyte layer forming step with a conductive material; And a fuel material injecting step of injecting a fuel material for forming electric power into the inner space of the first electrode body formed in the first electrode body forming step. Thus, a cylindrical fuel cell can be manufactured, and a cylindrical fuel Since the fabric structure can be constituted by a battery, it can be utilized as a power supply source of a wearable device or the like, and thus a technology capable of expanding the application field of the fuel cell is disclosed.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a cylindrical fuel cell,

The present invention relates to a fuel cell using a liquid fuel and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a fuel cell formed in a cylindrical shape capable of forming a fabric structure and a method of manufacturing the fuel cell.

A fuel cell is a power generation system that directly converts the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen and oxygen contained in a hydrocarbon-based material such as hydrogen or methanol, ethanol, and natural gas into electrical energy. The fuel cell is classified into a phosphoric acid type fuel cell, a molten carbonate type fuel cell, a solid oxide type fuel cell, a polymer electrolyte type or an alkaline type fuel cell depending on the type of the electrolyte used. Although each of these fuel cells operates on essentially the same principle, the type of fuel used, the operating temperature, the catalyst, and the electrolyte are different.

In a fuel cell system, a fuel cell stack that substantially generates electricity generally has a structure in which unit cells each consisting of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a separator (bipolar plate) . The MEA has a structure in which an anode electrode (a so-called fuel electrode or oxidation electrode) and a cathode electrode (aka air electrode or reduction electrode) are in close contact with each other with a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween. That is, electrodes (cathodes and anodes) are positioned on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, and the electrodes again include a catalyst layer, a diffusion layer, and a support layer.

The current collecting the current generated from the electrode and transferring it to the external circuit was located on the outer side of the supporting layer. Therefore, in order for the current generated in the catalyst layer to be transmitted to the current collector, the diffusion layer and the support layer must have electrical conductivity. On the other hand, the diffusion layer and the support layer are required to have hydrophobicity in order to discharge the generated water or to be hydrophobic in order to distribute the material, and also to be hydrophilic and / or water-soluble in order to smoothly supply the water In some cases, however, there was a limitation in the selection of materials with these properties, which also had to have electrical conductivity, and this limitation was directly related to the performance limitations of the fuel cell. In the related art, efforts have been focused on improving the above-described properties while obtaining electrical conductivity in the study of the materials of the diffusion layer and the support layer, and efforts for selecting more free materials by changing the position of the current collector have been known There was no bar. In addition, since the conventional fuel cell has a structure in which the fuel cell is formed in the shape of a flat plate and has a stacked structure, the shape of the fuel cell is inevitably limited, and thus the available range is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell having a cylindrical shape capable of forming a fabric structure so as to enlarge an application range of the fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof. In addition, a liquid or gaseous fuel is supplied to the inner center of the cylindrical fuel cell, and the air is naturally supplied to the outside of the cylindrical fuel cell.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a fuel cell, including: forming a first electrode body by forming a conductive material in a cylindrical shape to form a first electrode body; An electrolyte layer forming step of forming an electrolyte layer on an outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body formed in a cylindrical shape in the first electrode body forming step; A second electrode body forming step of forming a second electrode body on the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer formed in the electrolyte layer forming step with a conductive material; And a fuel material injecting step of injecting a fuel material for forming electric power into the inner space of the first electrode body formed in the first electrode body forming step.

The step of performing the step of forming the second electrode body and the step of injecting the fuel material may include the steps of forming the first electrode body, the electrolyte layer forming step, and the second electrode forming step, A step for forming a stopper that prevents fuel from leaking from one end or both ends of one side or the other of the cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body including the electrolyte layer and the second electrode body; May be included as another feature.

It is another feature of the present invention that the fuel injection hole is provided in at least one of the stoppers so that the fuel material to be injected in the fuel material injecting step can be injected into the inner space of the first electrode body It is possible.

The staple may further include a gas discharge hole through which the gas can be discharged from the inner space of the first electrode body to the outside so that the fuel material can be injected into the inner space of the first electrode body, It can also be a feature.

Here, the electrolyte layer forming step may include a step A for applying a polymer electrolyte solution to the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body; And a step B for drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution coated on the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body in the step (A).

Further, in the step of forming the electrolyte layer, the polymer electrolyte solution is coated on the dried or semi-dried surface of the polymer electrolyte solution after the step B; And a step (D) of drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution that has been applied in the step (C).

Furthermore, the step C and the step D may be repeated several times to gradually increase the thickness of the electrolyte layer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body comprising: a first electrode body having conductivity and formed in a cylindrical shape; A second electrode body having conductivity and being formed in a cylindrical shape, the first electrode body positioned on the inner side and the inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first electrode body; And an electrolyte layer formed between the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body and the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode body and mediating electron movement between the first electrode body and the second electrode body. You may.

A stopper is provided at both ends of one side and the other side of the first electrode body or the second electrode body and serves to prevent the fuel material filling the inner space of the first electrode body from leaking to the outside, ; And the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical fuel cell including: a first electrode body having conductivity and formed in a cylindrical shape; A second electrode body which is conductive and has a cylindrical shape and in which the first electrode body is located on the inner side and whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the first electrode body; An electrolyte layer formed between the first electrode body, the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode body, the electrolyte layer mediating cation or electron transfer between the first electrode body and the second electrode body; And a fuel material provided in an inner space of the first electrode body so that positive ions or electrons can be transferred between the first electrode body and the second electrode body.

The stator may further include a stopper provided at one end and the other end of the first electrode body and the second electrode body to prevent leakage of the fuel material.

Furthermore, the first electrode member may be a porous conductive material containing a platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system bimetallic catalyst as a fibrous aggregate.

Furthermore, the fibrous aggregate may also be characterized by being a conductive porous carbon felt.

Further, the second electrode body may be another feature that the fibrous assembly is a porous conductor containing platinum (pt).

Furthermore, the fibrous aggregate may also be characterized by being a conductive porous carbon felt.

Further, the electrolyte layer may be a polymer electrolyte layer containing a sulfonic acid group.

Since the fabric structure can be formed by using the cylindrical fuel cell according to the present invention, the cylindrical fuel cell and the cylindrical fuel cell according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, it can be utilized as a power supply source for a wearable device. So that it is possible to enlarge and apply it.

1 is a perspective sectional view schematically showing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a side sectional view schematically showing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart schematically showing a method of manufacturing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view exemplarily showing one form of a fabric structure using a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross- FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

For convenience of explanation and understanding, a cylindrical fuel cell will be described first, followed by a cylindrical fuel cell manufacturing method.

1 and 2, a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode body 120, a second electrode body 140, an electrolyte layer 130, and a fuel material 110 And preferably includes stoppers 151 and 152. The stoppers 151 and 152 may be formed of metal or plastic.

1 and 2, the first electrode body 120, the second electrode body 140, and the electrolyte layer 130 included in the cylindrical fuel cell are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the first electrode body 120 120 are formed in the shape of a rod.

The first electrode unit 120 is made of a conductive material, and preferably has a cylindrical shape. Here, the first electrode assembly 120 is preferably a porous conductor including a platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system bimetallic catalyst.

Here, the fibrous aggregate refers to an aggregate of fibers, including a felt made by compressing a fiber or a textile made of a woven fabric.

As a preferable example of such a fibrous aggregate, a carbon felt having a conductive property may be used.

The second electrode member 140 is also made of a conductive material and has a cylindrical shape as shown in the drawing. The inner diameter of the second electrode member 140 is larger than the outer diameter of the first electrode member 120 And the first electrode unit 120 and the second electrode unit 140 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

Here, the second electrode member 140 is preferably a porous conductor containing platinum (Pt) in the fibrous aggregate. As a preferable example of such a fibrous aggregate, a carbon felt having a conductive property may be used.

The electrolyte layer 130 is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body 120 and the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode body 140. It is therefore preferable that the electrolyte layer 130 also has a cylindrical shape. Here, unlike the first electrode unit 120 and the second electrode unit 140, the electrolyte layer 130 is preferably formed not to be porous but to have a high density.

The electrolyte layer 130 is preferably made of an acidic polymer material. A preferable example of the electrolyte layer 130 may be an electrolyte layer 130 made of a polymer material including a sulfonic acid group.

It is preferable that the fuel material 110 is provided in the inner space of the first electrode unit 120 like a rod so that positive or negative electrons can be transferred between the first electrode unit 120 and the second electrode unit 140.

As the fuel material 110, alcohol may be used, and more preferably, it is made of methanol.

As shown in FIG. 2, stoppers 151 and 152 are provided at both ends of one side and the other side of the first electrode body 120 and the second electrode body 140, respectively. This stuffer prevents the fuel material 110 from leaking.

The staples 151 and 152 are preferably made of a nonconductive material. For example, nonconductive materials such as PPMA, PTFE, rubber, and the like.

The staple 152 is preferably formed with a fuel injection hole 153 for injecting a fuel material 110 such as methanol. It is also preferable that a gas discharge hole (not shown) is provided so that the fuel material 110 such as methanol injected through the fuel injection hole 153 can be injected more smoothly into the first electrode body 120 Do.

When the gas discharge hole is provided, gas such as air existing inside the first electrode unit 120 can be discharged to the outside as the fuel material 110 is injected, so that the fuel material 110 can be injected more easily have.

As described above, a cylindrical fuel cell can be constructed. It should be noted that the first electrode unit 120 and the second electrode unit 140 are provided with terminals that can be connected to external electronic devices, but are not shown in the drawings.

It is also possible to connect such a cylindrical fuel cell in series as follows, if necessary. That is, the first electrode body of one cylindrical fuel cell and the second electrode body of another cylindrical fuel cell are electrically connected, and the second electrode body of one cylindrical fuel cell and the second electrode body of the other cylindrical fuel cell It is also possible that the body is electrically connected.

Next, a method of manufacturing a cylindrical fuel cell as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

A method of manufacturing a cylindrical fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming a first electrode body (S110), forming an electrolyte layer (S120), forming a second electrode body (S130), and injecting fuel material (S140) , And may further include a stuffer forming step (S150).

<< S110 >>

The first electrode body forming step S110 is a step of forming the first electrode body 120 by forming a conductive material into a cylindrical shape.

It is preferable that the first electrode unit 120 is made of a porous conductor containing a binary catalyst. More specifically, it is preferable that the fiber aggregate is made of a porous conductor containing a platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system bimetallic catalyst.

Here, the fibrous aggregate refers to an aggregate of fibers, including a felt made by compressing a fiber or a textile made of a woven fabric.

As a preferable example of such a fibrous aggregate, a carbon felt having a conductive property may be used.

Here, the first electrode unit 120 may be formed into a cylindrical shape by the following method.

A solution containing a binary catalyst of platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system is applied to a carbon felt which is porous, that is, a conductive material having pores formed thereon. And the solution containing the platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system binary catalyst is dried. A solution containing a binary catalyst of platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system forms a dried carbon felt in a cylindrical shape.

Here, the carbon felt having a certain diameter is rolled to form a carbon felt having a bimetallic catalyst of platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system into a cylindrical shape . Here, when the first electrode unit 120 is formed into a cylindrical shape so as to maintain a cylindrical shape, heating or an adhesive may be used.

Here, the thickness of the first electrode unit 120 formed in a cylindrical shape is preferably between 200 and 500 micrometers.

<< S120 >>

Next, the electrolyte layer forming step S120 is a step of forming the electrolyte layer 130 on the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body 120 formed in a cylindrical shape in the first electrode body forming step S110.

The electrolyte layer forming step S120 may include A step S121 and B step S123 and may further include C step S125 and D step S127.

<S121>

First, step A121 is a step of applying a polymer electrolyte solution to the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode unit 120. [ Here, the application of the polymer electrolyte solution to the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode assembly 120 may take various forms. That is, the polymer electrolyte solution may be applied to the outer surface of the first electrode unit 120, or the first electrode unit 120 may be immersed in the polymer electrolyte solution. When the method of immersing the first electrode unit 120 in the polymer electrolyte solution is used, it is preferable to quench both ends of the first electrode unit 120 and then quench the polymer electrolyte solution.

As the polymer electrolyte solution, it is preferable to use a polymer electrolyte solution containing a sulfonic acid group.

Application of the polymer electrolyte solution may be made by the following examples.

It is also preferred that the first electrode member 120 is supported on the polymer electrolyte solution containing a sulfonic acid group in a concentration of 5 to 30% by weight and dip-coated.

Or spraying a polymer electrolyte solution containing a sulfonic acid group at a concentration of 5 to 30% by weight on the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode unit 120.

In this manner, the polymer electrolyte solution is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode assembly 120 in step S121.

<S123>

Next, in step B, the polymer electrolyte solution applied on the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode assembly 120 is dried or semi-dried.

The polymer electrolyte solution is dried or semi-dried to form a morphologically stabilized electrolyte layer 130. Here, the conditions such as the time or temperature for drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution can be selected at an appropriate level depending on the type of the polymer electrolyte solution.

Here, the semirigid means that the fluidity as a solution is largely eliminated, but it can be understood that it is a gel-like state in a state where it is in a soft state as a solid state and a little fluidity remains.

In step A, a sufficient amount of the polymer electrolyte solution may be applied to form a necessary level of the electrolyte layer 130 through step B. However, in order to achieve the required thickness of the electrolyte layer 130, ) And step D (step S127).

<S125>

Step C125 is a step of reapplying the polymer electrolyte solution on the dried or semi-dried surface of the polymer electrolyte solution after the step B12 (S123). It is also preferable to reapply the polymer electrolyte solution containing a sulfonic acid group as in step S121.

<S127>

Step D (S127) after step C125 is a step of drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution applied in step S125.

The C step S125 and the D step S127 may be repeated many times to reach the required thickness of the electrolyte layer 130. [

As described above, an appropriate level of the electrolyte layer 130 can be formed through steps A121 to D127. The electrolyte layer 130 may be formed to have a thickness of about 50 micrometers to 300 micrometers.

When the electrolyte layer 130 is formed as described above, the second electrode body forming step S 130 is performed as follows.

<< S130 >>

The second electrode body forming step S130 is a step of forming the second electrode body 140 as a conductive material on the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer 130 formed in the electrolyte layer forming step S120. Here, the second electrode member 140 is formed in a cylindrical shape like the first electrode member 120.

More specifically, the second electrode member 140 is preferably a porous conductor containing platinum (Pt) in the fibrous aggregate. Here, a fiber aggregate is a collection of fibers, including a felt made by compressing a fiber or a textile made of a woven fabric.

As a preferable example of such a fibrous aggregate, a carbon felt having a conductive property may be used.

A solution containing platinum is applied to the carbon felt in order to form the carbon felt, which is a porous conductor, with platinum (pt) in a cylindrical form. Here, it may be applied by a spray method or a dip coating method. Then, the applied solution is dried or semi-dried.

When the solution containing platinum applied to the carbon felt is dried, it can be rolled so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer 130 formed in the electrolyte layer forming step S120. Here, since the electrolyte layer 130 formed in the electrolyte layer forming step S120 is cylindrical, the second electrode unit 140 is also formed in a cylindrical shape.

In this way, the second electrode member 140 can be formed in a cylindrical shape, and the electrolyte layer 130 and the first electrode member 120 are formed inside the second electrode member 140.

Alternatively, the second electrode member 140 may be formed in the following manner. A solution containing platinum is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer 130. Spray or dip coating method. Then, when the applied solution is dried, it is surrounded by a carbon felt to form a cylindrical shape. Here, it may be formed into a cylindrical shape by joining joint portions by heating or using an adhesive.

The second electrode member can be formed in this manner.

On the other hand, a state where the first electrode body 120, the second electrode body 140, and the electrolyte layer 130 are formed can be referred to as a fuel cell intermediate body.

Basically, after the first electrode body 120, the second electrode body 140, and the electrolyte layer 130 are formed, the fuel cell is manufactured by merely including the fuel material 110, so that the first electrode body 120, The second electrode body 140 and the electrolyte layer 130 can be referred to as a cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body. The state formed up to the staple to be described later may also be referred to as a cylindrical fuel cell intermediate.

This is because before the fuel material 110 such as methanol is injected to the inside of the first electrode body 120, the fuel cell 110 is in a state before the fuel cell 110 can exert its function. In the state of the cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body, The fuel cell 110 can function as a fuel cell just by injecting methanol into the fuel cell 110 directly.

Therefore, when the cylindrical first electrode body 120, the second electrode body 140, and the electrolyte layer 130 are formed, the cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body can be regarded as a cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body.

It is also preferable to further perform the following stuffer forming step (S150) before injecting the fuel material (110).

<< S140 >>

The staple forming step S150 is a step of forming the staple in the first electrode body 120 or the second electrode body 140 by arranging the fuel electrode material 120 filled in the inner space of the first electrode body 120 110 are prevented from leaking to the outside.

As described above, the staples 151 and 152 may be made of a nonconductive material such as PPMA, PTFE, rubber or the like as a nonconductive material.

The fuel material injection holes 153 or the gas discharge holes may be formed in the staples 151 and 153 in the process of forming the staples 151 and 153 themselves, After the staples 151 and 152 are formed at both ends of the second electrode unit 140, the fuel material injection hole 153 and the gas discharge hole may be formed afterwards.

<< S150 >>

The fuel material injecting step S150 is a step of injecting the fuel material 110 for forming electric power into the inner space of the first electrode body 120 formed in the first electrode body forming step S110.

Here, alcohol can be used as the fuel material 110, and more preferably, methanol can be used as the fuel material 110. [

There are various methods of injecting the fuel material 110 into the inner space of the first electrode unit 120. For example, methanol, which is the fuel material 110, may be injected by using a pump or a syringe.

As described above, the cylindrical fuel cell according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a wearable device, and for this purpose, the cylindrical fuel cell 10 may be formed into a fabric structure as exemplarily shown in FIG.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is to be construed as being limited only by the embodiments, and the scope of the present invention should be understood as the following claims and their equivalents.

110: fuel material 120: first electrode body
130: electrolyte layer 140: second electrode body
151, 152: stopper

Claims (16)

A first electrode body forming step of forming a first electrode body by forming a conductive material in a cylindrical shape;
An electrolyte layer forming step of forming an electrolyte layer on an outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body formed in a cylindrical shape in the first electrode body forming step;
A second electrode body forming step of forming a second electrode body on the outer circumferential surface of the electrolyte layer formed in the electrolyte layer forming step with a conductive material;
Wherein the first electrode body, the electrolyte layer, and the second electrode body formed through the first electrode body forming step, the electrolyte layer forming step, and the second electrode body forming step are formed in a cylindrical fuel cell intermediate body, A staple forming step of forming staples at both ends of one side and the other side to prevent fuel material from leaking;
A fuel material injecting step of injecting a fuel material for forming electric power into an inner space of the first electrode body formed in the first electrode body forming step; And
And a fabric organizing step of forming a fabric structure in which the fuel material is injected into the fuel cell intermediate in the fuel material injecting step,
At least one of the staples may include,
A fuel injection hole is provided so that the fuel material to be injected in the fuel material injecting step can be injected into the inner space of the first electrode body,
In the staple,
A gas discharge hole through which gas can be discharged from the inner space of the first electrode body to the outside so that the fuel material can be injected into the inner space of the first electrode body,
Wherein the electrolyte layer forming step comprises:
A step A in which the outer surface of the first electrode body is coated with a polymer electrolyte solution containing a sulfonic acid group;
A step B for drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution applied on the outer circumferential surface of the first electrode body in step A;
A step C in which the polymer electrolyte solution is coated on the dried or semi-dried surface of the polymer electrolyte solution after the step B; And
And a step (D) of drying or semi-drying the polymer electrolyte solution that has been applied in step (C).
The method according to claim 1,
The first electrode member is a porous conductive material containing a bimetallic catalyst of a platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system as a conductive carbon felt,
Wherein the second electrode member is a porous conductive material containing platinum (Pt) in a porous carbon felt having conductivity.
delete delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the step C and the step D are repeated a plurality of times to gradually increase the thickness of the electrolyte layer.
delete delete A first electrode body having conductivity and formed in a cylindrical shape;
A second electrode body which is conductive and has a cylindrical shape and in which the first electrode body is located on the inner side and whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the first electrode body;
A polymer electrolyte layer formed between the first electrode body, the outer circumferential surface, and the inner circumferential surface of the second electrode body, the polymer electrolyte layer including a sulfonic acid group mediating cation or electron transfer between the first electrode body and the second electrode body;
A fuel material provided in an inner space of the first electrode body so that positive ions or electrons can be transferred between the first electrode body and the second electrode body; And
A stopper provided at both ends of one side and the other side of the first electrode body and the second electrode body to prevent leakage of the fuel material; &Lt; / RTI &gt;
The first electrode member is a porous conductive material containing a bimetallic catalyst of a platinum (Pt) -ruthenium (Ru) system as a conductive carbon felt,
The second electrode body is a porous conductor containing platinum (pt) in a porous carbon felt having conductivity,
Wherein the fuel cell structure is made up of a fabric structure.
delete delete delete delete delete delete

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