Electrode for electrochemical cell and electrochemical cell

Abstract

To provide low-overpotential electrodes for an electrochemical cell including a proton-conductive electrolyte and an electrochemical cell including the electrodes. The following reaction occurs at the interface between a gas phase and an anode 3: H 2 →2H + +2e − At this time, the resultant protons (H + ) and electrons (e − ) exist in the anode 3. The subsequent electrode reaction is completed after the protons travel to an electrolyte 2 and the electrons travel to a lead 5. The reverse reaction occurs at a cathode 4 to generate hydrogen gas.

1 . Electrodes for an electrochemical cell including a proton-conductive electrolyte, the electrodes being an anode and a cathode, the anode and/or the cathode comprising a solid having hydrogen permeability.  
     
     
         2 . The electrodes according to  claim 1 , wherein the proton-conductive electrolyte has a perovskite structure represented by the general formula ABxO3-d (wherein 0.8 £×£1.2; and d is a deviation from the nominal value of oxygen, namely 3); and the B-site elements include zirconium (Zr).  
     
     
         3 . The electrodes according to  claim 2 , wherein the content of zirconium (Zr) is 20 mole percent or more.  
     
     
         4 . The electrodes according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixed proton-electron conductor.  
     
     
         5 . The electrodes according to  claim 4 , wherein the mixed proton-electron conductor is a mixed proton-electron conductive ceramic material having the perovskite structure.  
     
     
         6 . The electrodes according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         7 . The electrodes according to  claim 6 , wherein the hydrogen storage alloy comprises palladium (Pd).  
     
     
         8 . The electrodes according to  claim 7 , wherein the hydrogen storage alloy comprises 10% or more of palladium (Pd).  
     
     
         9 . The electrodes according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixture of a mixed proton-electron conductor and a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         10 . The electrodes according to  claim 9 , wherein the mixed proton-electron conductor is a mixed proton-electron conductive ceramic material having the perovskite structure; and the hydrogen storage alloy comprises palladium (Pd).  
     
     
         11 . An electrochemical cell comprising the proton-conductive electrolyte and the electrodes according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . The electrodes according to  claim 2 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixed proton-electron conductor.  
     
     
         13 . The electrodes according to  claim 3 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixed proton-electron conductor.  
     
     
         14 . The electrodes according to  claim 2 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         15 . The electrodes according to  claim 3 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         16 . The electrodes according to  claim 2 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixture of a mixed proton-electron conductor and a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         17 . The electrodes according to  claim 3 , wherein the solid having hydrogen permeability is a mixture of a mixed proton-electron conductor and a hydrogen storage alloy.  
     
     
         18 . An electrochemical cell comprising the proton-conductive electrolyte and the electrodes according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         19 . An electrochemical cell comprising the proton-conductive electrolyte and the electrodes according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         20 . An electrochemical cell comprising the proton-conductive electrolyte and the electrodes according to  claim 3.