Device and method for recovering catalyst for fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention provides a device and method for recovering a catalyst for a fuel cell, in which a carbon nanotube filter is provided in an air circulation loop of the fuel cell to recover catalyst particles washed away from a catalyst layer of an air electrode during operation of the fuel cell.

1 . A device for recovering a catalyst for a fuel cell, the device comprising at least one filter means provided at a predetermined position or positions in an air circulation loop of a fuel cell stack to recover catalyst particles washed away from a catalyst layer of an air electrode of the fuel cell stack. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst contains platinum. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter means is a carbon nanotube filter. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter means is provided on either or both an air supply line for supplying air to the air electrode of the fuel cell stack and an air discharge line through which reaction air is discharged from the air electrode. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst contains platinum. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the filter means is a carbon nanotube filter. 
   
   
       7 . A method for recovering a catalyst for a fuel cell, the method comprising:
 passing air discharged from an air electrode of a fuel cell stack through a carbon nanotube filter;   performing, at the carbon nanotube filter, a spontaneous reduction of catalyst ions and, at the same time, adsorbing reduced catalyst nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes to be recovered;   introducing the air passing through the carbon nanotube filter and containing a small amount of catalyst ions into a humidifier; and   mixing, at the humidifier, the small amount of catalyst ions with water and supplying the mixture to the fuel cell stack together with fresh air.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst comprises platinum.