Proton-conductive electrochemical device with integrated reforming and associated production method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018375140-A1
Application number	US-201616061924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A proton-conductive electrochemical device. The device comprising a positive electrode able to reduce an oxidizing species, a negative electrode able to oxidize a reducing species, and a proton-conductive electrolyte, in contact with the positive electrode and the negative electrode. In addition, the device further comprises a layer able to diffuse protons and electrons, said layer forming a protective barrier against contaminants for the proton-conductive electrolyte. The layer is in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte on the one hand and the negative electrode on the other hand. A method for manufacturing such device is also provided.

First claim

1 . A proton-conductive electrochemical device, comprising:
a positive electrode able to reduce an oxidizing species; a negative electrode able to oxidize a reducing species; a proton-conductive electrolyte, occupying a space between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and allowing the conduction of protons between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the electrochemical device further comprising a layer able to diffuse protons and electrons and forming a protective barrier against contaminants for the proton-conductive electrolyte, said layer being in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte on the one hand and the negative electrode on the other hand, the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons comprising a material chosen from: a material of the type ABB′O 3 , and a material of the type ABO 3 , wherein A is an element chosen from group II of the periodic table, B is an element chosen from cerium and group IVB of the periodic table, B′ is an element chosen from lanthanides or group VIIIB of the periodic table, and B′ is an element chosen from lanthanides or group VIIIB of the periodic table.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons has a thickness of between 1 μm and 10 μm.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons has a porosity of less than 10% by volume.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a macroporous support in contact with the negative electrode, the macroporous support being able to diffuse gaseous species.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the proton conductor is a proton-exchange polymer membrane.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the proton conductor is a solid electrolyte able to diffuse protons.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the material of the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons is a single-phase ceramic.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein material of the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons is a multiphase material.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the material of the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons is a two-phase material chosen from a ceramic-ceramic composite or a ceramic-metal composite.

10 . Use of the device according to claim 1 as a fuel cell, the oxidizing species being dioxygen and the reducing species being a dihydrogen source.

11 . Use of the device according to claim 1 as an ammonia reactor.

12 . Use of the device according to claim 1 as an electrolyser.

13 . Use of the device according to claim 1 as an electroreduction apparatus.

14 . A method for manufacturing a proton-conductive electrochemical device, comprising:
manufacturing a positive electrode able to reduce an oxidizing species; manufacturing a negative electrode able to oxidize a reducing species; manufacturing a proton-conductive electrolyte, occupying a space between the positive electrode and a negative electrode and allowing the conduction of protons between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; the method further comprising: manufacturing a layer able to diffuse protons and electrons and forming a protective barrier against contaminants for the proton-conductive electrolyte, said layer being in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte on the one hand and the negative electrode on the other hand, the layer able to diffuse protons and electrons comprising a material chosen from: a material of the type ABB′O 3 , and a material of the type ABO 3 , wherein A is an element chosen from group II of the periodic table, B is an element chosen from cerium and group IVB of the periodic table, B′ is an element chosen from lanthanides or group VIIIB of the periodic table, and B′ is an element chosen from lanthanides or group VIIIB of the periodic table.

Assignees

• Electricite De France
• Univ Montpellier
• Centre Nat Rech Scient

Inventors

• Marrony Mathieu
• Taillades Gilles
• Roziere Jacques
• Dailly Julian

Classifications

• H01M2300/0082

  Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M8/1067

  characterised by their physical properties, e.g. porosity, ionic conductivity or thickness · CPC title

• H01M4/9025

  Oxides specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC · CPC title

• H01M4/9075

  Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers (H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence) · CPC title

• C25B1/00

  Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals · CPC title