Electrode for fuel cells and method for manufacturing the same, and fuel cell using the same

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an electrode including: binding catalyst particles and porous carbon particles to a base material to form a catalyst porous structure; preparing an electrolyte precursor mixture containing a polymerizable electrolyte precursor represented by (R 1 O) 3 Si—R 2 —SO 3 H (wherein, R 1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R 2 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a polymerizable spacer precursor represented by (R 3 O) m SiR 4 n (wherein, R 3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R 4 represents —(CH 2 ) x —(CF 2 ) y —CF 3 ), and a solvent; impregnating the catalyst porous structure with the electrolyte precursor mixture to form a catalyst-electrolyte precursor complex; and performing a copolymerization reaction of the aforementioned compounds in the complex to form a water-insoluble polymer electrolyte layer containing a copolymer.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An electrode for fuel cells comprising:
 a catalyst porous structure comprising a base material, catalyst particles and porous carbon particles; and   a water-insoluble electrolyte layer provided on the surface of the catalyst porous structure; wherein   each of the porous carbon particles comprises a fine pore;   the catalyst particle is supported on the surface of the fine pore;   the electrolyte layer is composed of a copolymer of a polymerizable electrolyte precursor represented by (RO) 3 Si—R 2 —SO 3 H (wherein, R 1  represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R 2  represents an alkylene group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), and a polymerizable spacer precursor represented by (R 3 O) m SiR 4   n  (wherein, R 3  represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R 4  represents —(CH 2 ) x —(CF 2 ) y —CF 3  (wherein, x represents 0, 1 or 2, and y represents an integer of 4 to 18); m represents 2 or 3; and n represents 1 or 2, and wherein the sum of m and n is 4); and   the electrolyte layer is also formed in the fine pore.   
     
     
         6 . A fuel cell comprising a cathode electrode formed of the electrode for fuel cells according to  claim 5 , an anode electrode, and an electrolyte layer provided between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode.