KR102558466B1 - Electrode assembly using a substrate with a height difference and a method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a substrate having a plurality of hollow portions formed along the longitudinal direction, the height difference is formed so as to form a step difference; an anode disposed over the substrate; an electrolyte stacked and disposed on the anode; and a cathode disposed to be stacked on the electrolyte, wherein the anode includes: a first anode disposed on one side of the substrate based on the stepped portion; And a second anode disposed on the other side of the substrate and positioned so that the stepped portion is disposed between the first anode, wherein the cathode includes a first cathode stacked on the first anode and a second cathode stacked on the second anode, wherein the electrolyte is stacked between the first anode and the first cathode, and a first electrolyte stacked and disposed between the second anode and the second cathode A second electrolyte may be included, and the first electrolyte, the first anode, and the second electrolyte may be connected to a second cathode through a current collector.
In addition, the present invention includes (a) applying a filler to a substrate on which a plurality of hollow parts are formed along the longitudinal direction; (b) etching the substrate to which the filler is applied to form a stepped portion on the substrate; (c) depositing a thin film on the substrate and stacking a plurality of anodes so that the stepped portion is located therebetween; (d) depositing an electrolyte on each of the plurality of anodes; (e) electrically connecting each of the electrolytes to a current collector; laminating a current collector on a first anode included in the anode; and (f) stacking a cathode on each of the electrolytes, stacking a cathode on each of the electrolytes, and electrically connecting the first anode and the second cathode included in the cathode through the current collector.

Description

Electrode assembly using a substrate with a height difference and its manufacturing method

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference in which a plurality of electrode assemblies are provided on one substrate and a manufacturing method thereof.

A fuel cell is one of a variety of renewable energy sources. Fuel cells have advantages such as zero pollution and high efficiency.

Among fuel cells, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a fuel cell in which an electrolyte is made of a material having oxygen ion conductivity. Solid oxide fuel cells are applied to stationary power generation systems, small independent power sources and automobile power sources.

However, since solid oxide fuel cells are generally operated at high temperatures (800 to 100° C.), they have disadvantages of deterioration of electrodes and catalysts and impairing thermal durability of the system. In order to solve this problem, research has been conducted to make electrolytes and electrodes into thin films so that they can be operated at relatively low temperatures (400 to 600 ° C).

A stacking process of electrically connecting thin-film fuel cell unit cells having a thickness of 1 micron simply electrically connects the fuel cell unit cells in a vertical or horizontal direction. Specifically, it refers to the mechanical and electrical connection of the anode and cathode of the electrode, but at this time, there is a problem that the connection part is very weak mechanically due to the nature of the thin film. In addition, there is a problem that a local electrical resistance increase phenomenon due to point contact is accompanied.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1199051 (registered on November 1, 2012)

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference capable of preventing weakening of mechanical coupling during the stacking process of fuel cell unit electrodes (cells) and a manufacturing method thereof.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

An electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is a substrate having a plurality of hollow parts formed along a length direction and a step portion to form a height difference; an anode disposed over the substrate; an electrolyte stacked and disposed on the anode; and a cathode disposed to be stacked on the electrolyte, wherein the anode includes: a first anode disposed on one side of the substrate based on the stepped portion; And a second anode disposed on the other side of the substrate and positioned so that the stepped portion is disposed between the first anode, wherein the cathode includes a first cathode stacked on the first anode and a second cathode stacked on the second anode, wherein the electrolyte is stacked between the first anode and the first cathode, and a first electrolyte stacked and disposed between the second anode and the second cathode A second electrolyte may be included, and the first anode and the second cathode may be connected to a current collector.

In addition, the stepped portion may be formed to be perpendicular to a horizontal cross section of the substrate in a longitudinal direction.

In addition, the stepped portion includes a curved portion so as to be formed to be curved.

In addition, the stepped portion may be formed to be tapered based on a horizontal cross section of the substrate in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the second electrolyte may be formed in a shape in which one side surface is tapered in a height direction.

In addition, the current collector may be formed to be tapered so as to correspond to and be connected to the one side surface of the second electrolyte.

In addition, the second cathode. It may be formed to be stacked to correspond to the shape of the current collector and the second electrolyte.

In addition, the substrate may be provided with a plurality of step portions at predetermined intervals to form a height difference between the substrates.

Another embodiment of the present invention, (a) applying a filler to the substrate on which a plurality of hollow parts are formed along the longitudinal direction; (b) etching the substrate to which the filler is applied to form a stepped portion on the substrate; (c) depositing a thin film on the substrate and stacking a plurality of anodes so that the stepped portion is located therebetween; (d) depositing an electrolyte on each of the plurality of anodes; (e) laminating a current collector on a portion of the electrolyte so that each of the electrolytes is electrically connected; And (f) stacking a cathode on each of the electrolytes, wherein in step (e), the current collector is laminated on a portion of the first anode including the anode, and in step (f), a second cathode including the cathode is laminated on a portion of the current collector so that the first anode and the second cathode are electrically connected through the current collector.

In addition, the step (b) further includes forming the stepped portion in a curved shape.

In addition, the step (b) further includes forming the stepped portion to be tapered based on a horizontal cross section of the substrate in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the step (b) further includes providing a plurality of stepped portions at predetermined intervals to form a height difference between the substrates.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

In the present invention, a first electrode formed by sequentially stacking a first anode, a first electrolyte, and a first cathode, and a second electrode formed by sequentially stacking a second anode, a second electrolyte, and a second cathode are electrically connected to a current collector.

Due to such an electrical connection, mechanical weakness occurring in the electrical connection after fabrication of the fuel cell, which was pursued in the existing method, can be improved.

In addition, such an electrical connection can improve energy density by connecting several electrodes to one substrate.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 .
Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view showing the substrate of Figure 1;
Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of Figure 3a.
4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of FIG. 1 .
5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of FIG. 1 .
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly using a stepped plate according to the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them, will become clear with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in various forms that are limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and only these embodiments are provided to complete the disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention to which the present invention belongs, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

Terms used in this specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, singular forms also include plural forms unless specifically stated otherwise in a phrase. As used herein, "comprises" and/or "comprising" does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements other than the recited elements. Like reference numerals throughout the specification refer to like elements, and “and/or” includes each and every combination of one or more of the recited elements. Although "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms, of course. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the first element mentioned below may also be the second element within the technical spirit of the present invention.

The term "horizontal direction" used in the following description refers to the front side, rear side, left or right direction in a state in which the position in the upper or lower direction does not change, and the term "vertical direction" used in the following description means the upper or lower direction in a state in which the position in the front, rear, left or right direction does not change.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this specification may be used with meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly specifically defined.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 10 using a substrate having a height difference according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrode assembly 10 using a substrate having a height difference according to the illustrated embodiment includes a substrate 100, an anode 200, a cathode 300, and an electrolyte 400.

The substrate 100 has a plurality of hollows formed along the longitudinal direction.

The substrate 100 includes a stepped portion 110 to form a height difference.

The stepped portion 110 is formed by an etching process, and the etching process includes wet and dry etching processes.

The anode 200 is an anode and is supplied with hydrocarbon-based fuel containing hydrogen. The anode 200 is disposed on the substrate 100 and includes a first anode 210 and a second anode 220 .

Referring to FIG. 1 , the first anode 210 is disposed on one side of the substrate 100 with respect to the stepped portion 110, and the second anode 220 is disposed on the other side of the substrate.

Specifically, the stepped portion 110 is disposed between the first anode 210 and the second anode 220, and a height difference is formed in the horizontal cross section of the first anode 210 and the second anode 220.

The electrolyte 400 is stacked on the anode 200 and includes a first electrolyte 410 and a second electrolyte 420 .

The electrolyte 400 may be formed of an ion conductive oxide to deliver oxygen ions, hydrogen ions, and the like to the cathode 300 to be described later.

The first electrolyte 410 is stacked and disposed on the first anode 210 , and the second electrolyte 420 is stacked and disposed on the second anode 220 .

At this time, the first anode 210 stacked on the first electrolyte 410 and the second cathode 320 stacked on the second electrolyte 420 are electrically connected by the current collector 500 .

Since the current collector 500 must conduct electricity well, it is preferable to be made of a dense material with high electrical conductivity.

The cathode 300 is stacked on the electrolyte 400 and includes a first cathode 310 and a second cathode 320 .

The cathode 300 is a negative electrode and receives oxygen in the air from the electrolyte 400 .

The first cathode 310 is stacked on the first electrolyte 410 and the second cathode 320 is stacked on the second electrolyte 420 .

That is, the first electrolyte 410 is stacked on the substrate 100 between the first anode 210 and the first cathode 310, and the second electrolyte 420 is stacked between the second anode 220 and the second cathode 320.

At this time, it is preferable that the first anode 210 and the second electrolyte 420 are not electrically connected to each other.

At this time, also, it is preferable that the first cathode 310 and the second cathode 320 are not electrically connected to each other.

Meanwhile, electrical energy and water are generated by an electrochemical reaction between oxygen in the air supplied to the cathode 300 and hydrogen supplied to the anode 200 .

At this time, the anode 200 and the cathode 300 preferably have high permeability or porosity so that hydrogen and oxygen can easily pass therethrough, unlike the current collector 500 described above.

Electrical energy is supplied to an external circuit (not shown) or a load (not shown) connected to the electrode assembly 10 using a substrate having a height difference according to the present invention.

Meanwhile, a thin film process for forming a thin film on the surface of the anode 200, the electrolyte 400, and the cathode 300 stacked on the substrate 100 is applied. In this case, the thin film process is, for example, a vacuum process such as sputtering or atomic layer deposition or a non-vacuum process such as screen printing or tape casting.

The thin film process described above is also applied to the current collector 500 .

Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view showing the substrate of Figure 1, Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of Figure 3a.

3A and 3B, the substrate 100 provided with the stepped portion 110 having a height difference is formed by the etching process as described above.

Therefore, it is preferable that the substrate 100 is formed in a stepped shape.

However, referring to FIG. 3B , the stepped portion 110 by the etching process may further include a curved portion 111 formed in a curved shape rather than a stair shape having a side cross-section of 90 degrees. This is a structure in which a tail is left by an etching process.

On the other hand, although not shown, the stepped portion 110 formed on the substrate 100 does not form a right angle to the horizontal cross section of the substrate 100 in the longitudinal direction, and may be formed to be tapered based on the horizontal cross section. Specifically, an angle between the stepped portion 110 and the horizontal cross section of the substrate 100 may be formed as an obtuse angle or an acute angle.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the second electrolyte 420 may be formed in a shape in which one side surface is tapered in the height direction.

The tapered shape of the second electrolyte 420 is generated in the process of depositing the second electrolyte 420 on the second anode 220 .

At this time, the current collector 500 electrically connecting the first anode 210 on which the first electrolyte is stacked and the second cathode 320 stacked on the second electrolyte is electrically connected to one side of the second electrolyte 420 having a tapered shape. It is formed to be tapered to correspond.

In addition, the lower surface of the second electrolyte 420, one side of which is tapered in the height direction, and the second cathode 320 stacked on the current collector 500, the second electrolyte 420 and the current collector 500. It is formed to be curved so that it can be stacked in correspondence with the connection.

Meanwhile, a structure in which the first anode 210, the first electrolyte 410, and the first cathode 310 are stacked is defined as a first membrane electrode assembly as a first electrode, and a structure in which the second anode 220, the second electrolyte 420, and the second cathode 320 are stacked may be defined as a second membrane electrode assembly as a second electrode. In this case, the first membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the first electrode may be defined as a first cell, and the second membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the second electrode may be defined as a second cell.

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , the substrate 100 may include a plurality of stepped portions forming a height difference on the substrate at predetermined intervals. 5 is provided with a substrate 100 in the form of a staircase having three steps, but at this time, since the number of steps is not limited, three or more may be formed. In addition, the height of the stairs does not have to gradually decrease or increase along the length direction, and may increase and decrease.

At this time, as described above, a first membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the first electrode and a second membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the second electrode may be formed and disposed on each layer. At this time, the current collector 500 electrically connects the first membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the first electrode and the second membrane electrode assembly corresponding to the second electrode.

Such a connection can improve the mechanical weakness that occurs in the electrical connection after fabrication of the fuel cell, which was pursued in the existing method.

In addition, such connection can improve energy density by connecting several electrodes (membrane electrode assembly_) to one substrate. Specifically, if one first electrode (first membrane electrode assembly) generates 1V (volt), a stack formed by electrically connecting the first electrode (first membrane electrode assembly) and the second electrode (second membrane electrode assembly) can generate 2V (volt).

Although not shown, electrical connection of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode (the first membrane electrode assembly, the second membrane electrode assembly, and the third membrane electrode assembly) is also possible in the same manner as described above, and it is also possible to arrange n electrodes (membrane electrode assemblies) on the substrate according to the length of the substrate 100 to maximize the electrical energy density.

Meanwhile, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly 10 using a stepped substrate according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly 10 using a stepped substrate according to the illustrated embodiment begins with the step of applying a filler to the substrate 100 having a plurality of hollow parts formed along the longitudinal direction (S100).

The substrate 100 is a platform on which the anode 200, the cathode 300, and the electrolyte 400, which are the electrode materials described above, are deposited, and the substrate 100 having a plurality of hollow portions formed along the longitudinal direction is etched. A filler is applied to withstand etching (S100).

At this time, it is preferable that the filler applied to the substrate 100 has a polymer-based main component.

Next, the substrate 100 to which the filler is applied is etched to form a stepped portion 110 to form a height difference on the substrate (S200).

The stepped portion 110 forming a height difference on the substrate is manufactured using various wet and dry etching processes including reactive ion etching (RIE).

After the etching process is finished, the remaining filler remaining on the substrate 100 is removed.

Next, the anode 200 is stacked and disposed on the substrate 100 having a height difference formed using a thin film manufacturing process (S300).

At this time, the stacked arrangement of the anode 200 is such that the stepped portion 110 is disposed between the first anode 210 and the second anode 220, as described above with reference to FIG.

Meanwhile, the thin film fabrication process refers to a vacuum process such as sputtering or atomic layer deposition or a non-vacuum process such as screen printing or tape casting.

Next, the electrolyte 400 is stacked on the anode 200 (S400).

At this time, since the structure in which the first electrolyte 410 is stacked on the first anode 210 and the second electrolyte 420 is stacked on the second anode 220 is the same as described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the above-described thin film manufacturing process is equally applied to the process of stacking and arranging the electrolyte 400 . A detailed description of this will be omitted since it is the same as the previously mentioned content.

Next, the current collector 500 is stacked to electrically connect the electrolyte 400 .
Specifically, the current collector 500 is stacked on a part of the first anode 210 and a part of the second electrolyte 420 (S500), so that the first electrolyte 410 and the second electrolyte 420 are electrically connected by the current collector 500.

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Next, the cathode 300 is stacked on each of the electrolytes 400 (S600).

At this time, the above-described thin film manufacturing process is equally applied to the process of stacking and arranging the cathode 300 . A detailed description of this will be omitted since it is the same as the previously mentioned content.

At this time, since the structure in which the first cathode 310 is stacked on the first electrolyte 410 and the second cathode 320 is stacked on the second electrolyte 420 is the same as described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, a portion of the current collector 500 is stacked on one end of the first anode 210, and the remaining portion of the current collector 500 protruding outside the end surface of the first anode 210 is stacked on the second cathode 300. The first anode 210 and the second cathode 320 are electrically connected.

Meanwhile, although not shown, step S200 may further include forming the stepped portion 110 in a curved shape.

As described above, it refers to the curved portion 111 formed to be curved, which means a structure in which a tail is left by an etching process.

In addition, although not shown, step S200 may further include a step of forming the stepped portion 110 to be tapered based on the horizontal cross section of the substrate 100 in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, although not shown in FIG. 6 , step S200 further includes a step of providing a plurality of stepped portions 110 at predetermined intervals to form a height difference on the substrate 100 .

In the above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be understood that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the technical spirit and technical scope of the present invention described in the claims to be described later. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

10: Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference
100: substrate
110: stepped part
111: bend
200: anode
210: first anode
220: second anode
230: third anode
300: cathode
310: first cathode
320: second cathode
330: third cathode
400: electrolyte
410: first electrolyte
420: second electrolyte
430: third electrolyte
500: entire collector

Claims (12)

A substrate having a plurality of hollow portions formed along the longitudinal direction and having a stepped portion to form a height difference;
an anode disposed over the substrate;
an electrolyte stacked and disposed on the anode; and
A cathode disposed so as to be stacked on the electrolyte; includes,
The anode,
a first anode disposed on one side of the substrate based on the stepped portion; and
It is disposed on the other side of the substrate and includes a second anode positioned so that the stepped portion is disposed between the first anode and the second anode,
The cathode
A first cathode stacked on the first anode and disposed thereon;
And a second cathode stacked on the second anode,
The electrolyte is
A first electrolyte stacked and disposed between the first anode and the first cathode, and
And a second electrolyte stacked and disposed between the second anode and the second cathode,
Characterized in that the first anode and the second cathode are connected to a current collector,
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 1,
The stepped portion is formed to be perpendicular to the horizontal cross section of the substrate in the longitudinal direction,
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 1,
The stepped portion includes a curved portion so as to be formed to be curved
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 1,
Characterized in that the stepped portion is formed to be tapered based on a horizontal cross section in the longitudinal direction of the substrate,
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The second electrolyte is
One side is formed in a tapered shape in the height direction,
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 5,
The current collector is formed to be tapered so as to correspond to and connect to the one side of the second electrolyte.
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 6,
The second cathode.
Formed to be stacked to correspond to the shape of the current collector and the second electrolyte,
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 1,
the substrate,
Characterized in that a plurality of step portions are provided at predetermined intervals so that a height difference between the substrates is formed.
Electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. (a) applying a filler to a substrate on which a plurality of hollows are formed along the longitudinal direction;
(b) etching the substrate to which the filler is applied to form a stepped portion on the substrate;
(c) depositing a thin film on the substrate and stacking a plurality of anodes so that the stepped portion is located therebetween;
(d) depositing an electrolyte on each of the plurality of anodes;
(e) laminating a current collector on a portion of the electrolyte so that each of the electrolytes is electrically connected; and
(f) stacking a cathode on each of the electrolytes;
In the step (e), the current collector is laminated on a portion of the first anode included in the anode,
In the step (f), a second cathode included in the cathode is laminated on a portion of the current collector so that the first anode and the second cathode are electrically connected through the current collector,
A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 9,
The step (b) further comprises forming the stepped portion in a curved shape,
A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 9,
The step (b) further comprises forming the stepped portion to be tapered based on a horizontal cross section in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.
A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference. According to claim 9,
The step (b) further comprises providing a plurality of the stepped portions at predetermined intervals so that a height difference between the substrates is formed.
A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly using a substrate having a height difference.