Electrolytic Solution, Electrolytic Aqueous Solution, and Power Generating Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019372145-A1
Application number	US-201816485527-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Feb 17, 2017
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for suppressing generation of hydrogen gas at the time when an ion concentration gradient is generated by a temperature responsive electrolyte. An electrolytic solution contains a temperature responsive electrolyte and an oxidation-reduction active species. The temperature responsive electrolyte is an electrolyte whose pKa varies according to the temperature. A power generating device performs power generation by using the electrolytic solution. The power generating device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a heating mechanism, and a cooling mechanism. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are immersed in the electrolytic solution. The heating mechanism heats the electrolytic solution that is present in the vicinity of one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The cooling mechanism cools the electrolytic solution that is present in the vicinity of the other one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

First claim

1 . An electrolytic solution comprising:
a temperature responsive electrolyte that is an electrolyte whose pKa varies according to temperature; and an oxidation-reduction active species;
wherein said oxidation-reduction active species is free of a hydroquinone derivative.

2 . An electrolytic solution comprising:
a temperature responsive electrolyte that is an electrolyte whose pKa varies according to temperature; and an oxidation-reduction active species selected from among N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine or a derivative thereof, nicotinamide or a derivative thereof, a proflavine hemisulfate hydrate or a derivative thereof, riboflavin or a derivative thereof, sulfated anthraquinone or a derivative thereof, naphthoquinone or a derivative thereof, or methylene blue or a derivative thereof.

3 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . The electrolytic solution according to claim 1 ,
wherein the temperature responsive electrolyte is a molecule that has a polar group, a hydrophobic group, and an ionizable functional group.

10 . A power generating device that performs power generation by using the electrolytic solution according to claim 1 , the power generating device comprising:
a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a heating mechanism; and a cooling mechanism,
wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are immersed in the electrolytic solution,
the heating mechanism heats the electrolytic solution that is present in the vicinity of one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and
the cooling mechanism cools the electrolytic solution that is present in the vicinity of the other one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

11 . The power generating device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the heating mechanism heats the electrolytic solution to a temperature higher than a phase transition temperature of the temperature responsive electrolyte, and the cooling mechanism cools the electrolytic solution to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature of the temperature responsive electrolyte.

12 . The power generating device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a positive electrode tank; a negative electrode tank; and a circulation mechanism,
wherein the electrolytic solution is contained in the positive electrode tank and the negative electrode tank,
the positive electrode is in contact with the electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode tank,
the negative electrode is in contact with the electrolytic solution contained in the negative electrode tank,
the heating mechanism heats either one of the electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode tank and the electrolytic solution contained in the negative electrode tank,
the cooling mechanism cools the other one of the electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode tank and the electrolytic solution contained in the negative electrode tank, and
the circulation mechanism circulates the electrolytic solution between the positive electrode tank and the negative electrode tank.

13 . The power generating device according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a heat exchange mechanism, wherein the heat exchange mechanism performs heat exchange between the electrolytic solution delivered to the positive electrode tank by the circulation mechanism and the electrolytic solution delivered to the negative electrode tank by the circulation mechanism.

14 . An electrolytic aqueous solution comprising:
a temperature responsive electrolyte that is an electrolyte whose pKa varies according to temperature; and an oxidation-reduction reactive species that is selected from hydroquinone or a hydroquinone derivative.

15 . The electrolytic aqueous solution according to claim 14 ,
wherein the oxidation-reduction reactive species does not precipitate in the electrolytic aqueous solution.

16 . The electrolytic aqueous solution according to claim 14 ,
wherein the temperature responsive electrolyte is a molecule that has a polar group, a hydrophobic group, and an ionizable functional group.

17 . The electrolytic aqueous solution according to claim 14 ,
wherein the oxidation-reduction reactive species is one selected from among hydroquinone and methyl hydroquinone.

18 . (canceled)

19 . A power generating device that performs power generation by using the electrolytic aqueous solution according to claim 14 , the power generating device comprising:
a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a heating mechanism; and a cooling mechanism,
wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are immersed in the electrolytic aqueous solution,
the heating mechanism heats the electrolytic aqueous solution that is present in the vicinity of one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and
the cooling mechanism cools the electrolytic aqueous solution that is present in the vicinity of the other one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

20 . The power generating device according to claim 19 ,
wherein the heating mechanism heats the electrolytic aqueous solution to a temperature higher than a phase transition temperature of the temperature responsive electrolyte, and the cooling mechanism cools the electrolytic aqueous solution to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature of the temperature responsive electrolyte.

21 . The power generating device according to claim 19 , further comprising:
a positive electrode tank; a negative electrode tank; and a circulation mechanism,
wherein the electrolytic aqueous solution is contained in the positive electrode tank and the negative electrode tank,
the positive electrode is in contact with the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the positive electrode tank,
the negative electrode is in contact with the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the negative electrode tank,
the heating mechanism heats one of the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the positive electrode tank and the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the negative electrode tank,
the cooling mechanism cools the other one of the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the positive electrode tank and the electrolytic aqueous solution contained in the negative electrode tank, and
the circulation mechanism circulates the electrolytic aqueous solution between the positive electrode tank and the negative electrode tank.

22 . The power generating device according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a heat exchange mechanism, wherein the heat exchange mechanism performs heat exchange between the electrolytic aqueous solution delivered to the positive electrode tank by the circulation mechanism and the electrolytic aqueous solution delivered to the negative electrode tank by the circulation mechanism.

23 . The electrolytic solution according to claim 2 ,
wherein the temperature responsive electrolyte is a molecule that has a polar group, a hydrophobic group, and an ionizable functional group.

24 . A power generating device that performs power generation by using the electrolytic solution according to claim 2 , the power generating device comprising:
a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a heating mechanism; and a cooling mechanism, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are immersed in the electrolytic solution, the heating mechanism heats the electrolytic solution that is present in the vicinity of one of the positive electrode and the

Assignees

• Univ Kyushu Nat Univ Corp

Inventors

• Hoshino Yu
• Guo Benshuai
• Yamada Teppei
• Gao Fan
• Ueda Kentaro

Classifications

• H01M2300/0002

  Aqueous electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/182 Primary

  Regeneration by thermal means · CPC title

• C09B1/24

  sulfonated · CPC title

• C07C39/08

  Dihydroxy benzenes; Alkylated derivatives thereof · CPC title

• C09B21/00

  Thiazine dyes · CPC title