Reactor and method for activating reactor

Abstract

A reactor of the present disclosure includes a solid electrolyte having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the first surface; a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the second surface; a first substrate having a plurality of first recesses on one main surface thereof; and a second substrate having a plurality of second recesses on one main surface thereof. The first substrate is arranged on the solid electrolyte in such a manner that each of the first recesses faces one of the first electrodes. The second substrate is arranged on the solid electrolyte in such a manner that each of the second recesses faces one of the second electrodes. A plurality of first chambers and a plurality of second chambers are formed in the reactor. At least one of the plurality of first chambers is arranged so as to overlap two or more of the plurality of second chambers when the reactor is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one main surface of the first substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactor comprising:
 a solid electrolyte having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the first surface;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the second surface;   a first substrate including a plurality of first chambers each formed of a first recess on one principal plane;   a second substrate including a plurality of second chambers each formed of a second recess on one principal plane; and   an external power supply,   wherein   a bottom of each of the first recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the first electrodes;   a bottom of each of the second recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the second electrodes;   each first electrode includes a first catalyst;   each second electrode includes a second catalyst;   the first substrate is arranged on the first surface in such a manner that each first chamber is interposed between the first substrate and the first surface;   the second substrate is arranged on the second surface in such a manner that each second chamber is interposed between the second substrate and the second surface;   at least one of the plurality of the first chambers overlaps two or more second chambers, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one principal surface of the first substrate; and   the external power supply is electrically interposed between the plurality of the first electrodes and the plurality of the second electrodes in such a manner that a voltage difference is generated between the plurality of the first electrodes and the plurality of the second electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a joining layer arranged between the solid electrolyte and the first substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second substrate is electrically conductive; and   the second substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the second electrode is applied to the second substrate.   
     
     
         4 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second substrate is electrically conductive; and   the second substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the first electrode is applied to the second substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The reactor according to  claim 4 , wherein
 a distance between an outer edge of the second electrode and the second substrate on the second surface is larger than a thickness of the solid electrolyte.   
     
     
         6 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first substrate is electrically conductive; and   the first substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the second electrode is applied to the first substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of first chambers each have a circular or polygonal shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one main surface of the first substrate; and   the plurality of first chambers are arranged so as to form a lattice pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a carrier in the solid electrolyte is a hydrogen ion or an oxygen ion.   
     
     
         9 . A method for activating the reactor, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing a reactor comprising:   a solid electrolyte having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the first surface;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the second surface;   a first substrate including a plurality of first chambers each formed of a first recess on one principal plane;   a second substrate including a plurality of second chambers each formed of a second recess on one principal plane; and   an external power supply,   wherein   a bottom of each of the first recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the first electrodes;   a bottom of each of the second recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the second electrodes;   each first electrode includes a first catalyst;   each second electrode includes a second catalyst;   the first substrate is arranged on the first surface in such a manner that each first chamber is interposed between the first substrate and the first surface;   the second substrate is arranged on the second surface in such a manner that each second chamber is interposed between the second substrate and the second surface;   at least one of the plurality of the first chambers overlaps two or more second chambers of the plurality of the second chambers, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one principal surface of the first substrate;   the external power supply is electrically interposed between the plurality of the first electrodes and the plurality of the second electrodes;   the second substrate is electrically conductive; and   the second substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the second electrode is applied to the second substrate;   (b) applying voltages, which have mutually different polarities, to the first electrode and the second electrode; and   (c) applying to the second substrate a voltage having the same polarity as that of the voltage applied to the second electrode.   
     
     
         10 . A method for activating the reactor, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing a reactor comprising:   a solid electrolyte having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the first surface;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the second surface;   a first substrate including a plurality of first chambers each formed of a first recess on one principal plane;   a second substrate including a plurality of second chambers each formed of a second recess on one principal plane; and   an external power supply,   wherein   a bottom of each of the first recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the first electrodes;   a bottom of each of the second recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the second electrodes;   each first electrode includes a first catalyst;   each second electrode includes a second catalyst;   the first substrate is arranged on the first surface in such a manner that each first chamber is interposed between the first substrate and the first surface;   the second substrate is arranged on the second surface in such a manner that each second chamber is interposed between the second substrate and the second surface;   at least one of the plurality of the first chambers overlaps two or more second chambers of the plurality of the second chambers, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one principal surface of the first substrate;   the external power supply is electrically interposed between the plurality of the first electrodes and the plurality of the second electrodes;   the second substrate is electrically conductive; and   the second substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the first electrode is applied to the second substrate.   (b) applying voltages, which have mutually different polarities, to the first electrode and the second electrode; and   (c) applying to the second substrate a voltage having the same polarity as that of the voltage applied to the first electrode.   
     
     
         11 . A method for activating the reactor, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing a reactor comprising:   a solid electrolyte having a first surface and a second surface;   a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the first surface;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the second surface;   a first substrate including a plurality of first chambers each formed of a first recess on one principal plane;   a second substrate including a plurality of second chambers each formed of a second recess on one principal plane; and   an external power supply,   wherein   a bottom of each of the first recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the first electrodes;   a bottom of each of the second recess is opposite to one of the plurality of the second electrodes;   each first electrode includes a first catalyst;   each second electrode includes a second catalyst;   the first substrate is arranged on the first surface in such a manner that each first chamber is interposed between the first substrate and the first surface;   the second substrate is arranged on the second surface in such a manner that each second chamber is interposed between the second substrate and the second surface;   at least one of the plurality of the first chambers overlaps two or more second chambers of the plurality of the second chambers, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the one principal surface of the first substrate;   the external power supply is electrically interposed between the plurality of the first electrodes and the plurality of the second electrodes;   the first substrate is electrically conductive; and   the first substrate is electrically connected to the external power supply in such a manner that the a voltage having the same polarity as that of the second electrode is applied to the first substrate;   (b) applying voltages, which have mutually different polarities, to the first electrode and the second electrode; and   (c) applying to the second substrate a voltage having the same polarity as that of the voltage applied to the first electrode.