IP Library Granted Patent US 8,652,704
Granted Patent B2
US 8,652,704 · App. 10/591,176 · Granted Feb 18, 2014

Direct alcohol fuel cell with cathode catalyst layer containing silver and method for producing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,652,704
App. No.
10/591,176
Granted
Feb 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The direct alcohol fuel cell of the present invention is a direct alcohol fuel cell comprising an anode 20 having an anode catalyst layer 2 , a cathode 30 having a cathode catalyst layer 3 , and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 1 arranged between the anode 20 and cathode 30 , the direct alcohol fuel cell generating electricity by supplying the anode 20 with alcohol and water; wherein the cathode catalyst layer 3 contains a metal complex and/or a metal complex fired product formed by firing the metal complex as a catalyst.

Claims (23)

1. A direct alcohol fuel cell comprising an anode having an anode catalyst layer, a cathode having a cathode catalyst layer, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane arranged between the anode and cathode, the direct alcohol fuel cell generating electricity by supplying the anode with alcohol and water; wherein:

the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is an anion exchange membrane,

the cathode catalyst layer contains silver as a catalyst,

the cathode catalyst layer contains an anion exchange resin as a binder, the anion exchange resin being poly-4-vinylpyridine, poly-2-vinylpyridine, poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine or poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which are processed into quaternary ammonium,

the cathode catalyst layer does not contain a cation exchange resin,

the catalyst is bound by the anion exchange resin in the cathode catalyst layer, and

the catalyst, the anion exchange resin, and the anion exchange membrane form a contact interface.

2. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst includes a carrier catalyst having a carbon material carrying the silver.

3. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the anion exchange membrane is constituted by a polymer compound having a cation group within a molecule.

4. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is at least one species selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, and erythritol.

5. A direct alcohol fuel cell comprising an anode having an anode catalyst layer, a cathode having a cathode catalyst layer, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane arranged between the anode and cathode, the direct alcohol fuel cell generating electricity by supplying the anode with alcohol and water; wherein:

the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is an anion exchange membrane,

the cathode catalyst layer contains silver as a catalyst,

the cathode catalyst layer contains an anion exchange resin as a binder, the anion exchange resin being poly-4-vinylpyridine, poly-2-vinylpyridine, poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine or poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which are processed into quaternary ammonium,

the cathode catalyst layer does not contain a cation exchange resin, and

the catalyst is bound by the anion exchange resin in the cathode catalyst layer.

6. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the catalyst includes a carrier catalyst having a carbon material carrying the silver.

7. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the anion exchange membrane is constituted by a polymer compound having a cation group within a molecule.

8. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the alcohol is at least one species selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerin, and erythritol.

9. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the anion exchange resin is poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine or poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which are processed into quaternary ammonium.

10. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the anion exchange resin is poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which is processed into quaternary ammonium.

11. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the anion exchange resin is poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine or poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which are processed into quaternary ammonium.

12. A direct alcohol fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the anion exchange resin is poly-1-pyridine-4-ylcarbonyloxyethylene which is processed into quaternary ammonium.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 12, 2013
From: TDK CORPORATION
To: TDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030651/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2006
From: SANO, ATSUSHI; MARUYAMA, SATOSHI
To: TDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018270/0976 →