IP Library Granted Patent US 7,662,505
Granted Patent B2
US 7,662,505 · App. 10/879,759 · Granted Feb 16, 2010

Porous electrode, and electrochemical element made using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,662,505
App. No.
10/879,759
Granted
Feb 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrode with which an efficient electrode reaction will occur. The present invention relates to a porous electrode which is an electrode composed of a porous material having electron conductivity, wherein (1) the porous material comprises a three-dimensional skeleton, (2) a substance having one or more proton affinity groups is present on all or part of the three-dimensional skeleton surface, and (3) a catalyst for separating hydrogen into protons and electrons is further included, with the catalyst being supported on the substance.

Claims (21)

1. A porous electrode comprising a porous material having electron conductivity, wherein (1) the porous material comprises a three-dimensional skeleton, (2) a substance having one or more proton affinity groups is present on all or part of the three-dimensional skeleton surface,

wherein the substance is a dendrimer having one or more proton affinity groups on the surface, wherein, said dendrimer is based on a polyamide-amine, polypropyleneimine, polyether, aliphatic polymer or aromatic polymer and

(3) a catalyst for separating hydrogen into protons and electrons is supported on the inside of the dendrimer.

2. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous material is a carbon material.

3. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , obtained by impregnating a porous material with a solution or dispersion containing a substance that has one or more proton affinity groups.

4. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the porosity of the porous material is at least 20% and not more than 80%.

5. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the specific surface area of the porous material is at least 10 m 2 /g and not more than 500 m 2 /g.

6. A method for manufacturing a porous electrode comprising a porous material having electron conductivity, wherein (1) the porous material comprises a three-dimensional skeleton, (2) a substance having one or more proton affinity groups is present on all or part of the three-dimensional skeleton surface,

wherein the substance is a dendrimer having one or more proton affinity groups on the surface, wherein, said dendrimer is based on a polyamide-amine, polypropyleneimine, polyether, aliphatic polymer or aromatic polymer and

(3) a catalyst for separating hydrogen into protons and electrons is supported on the inside of the dendrimer,

comprising a step of impregnating the porous material with a solution or dispersion containing said substance which supports said catalyst.

7. An electrochemical element comprises a fuel electrode that produces protons from a fuel and an oxygen electrode that reacts protons with oxygen,

wherein the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode are disposed across from each other with a proton-conductive solid electrolyte in between, and wherein at least one of the electrodes is the porous electrode according to claim 1 .

8. The electrochemical element according to claim 7 , wherein the fuel is hydrogen.

9. The electrochemical element according to claim 8 , wherein the fuel is methanol.

10. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the dendrimer has one or more porous material affinity groups on the surface.

11. The method for manufacturing a porous electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the dendrimer has one or more porous material affinity groups on the surface.

12. The electrochemical element according to claim 7 , wherein the dendrimer has one or more porous material affinity groups on the surface.

13. The porous electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the porous electrode comprise a dendrimer that does not support the catalyst.

14. The method for manufacturing a porous electrode according to claim 6 , wherein the porous electrode comprise a dendrimer that does not support the catalyst.

15. The electrochemical element according to claim 7 , wherein the porous electrode comprise a dendrimer that does not support the catalyst.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 19, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021858/0958 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2004
From: SUZUKI, MASA-AKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015833/0427 →