Electrode unit, electrolytic cell comprising electrode unit, electrolytic device and method of manufacturing electrode of electrode unit

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electrode unit of an electrolytic device includes a first electrode including a first surface, a second surface located on a side opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through-holes opening on the first surface and the second surface, a second electrode opposed to the first surface of the first electrode, and a porous membrane containing an inorganic oxide and provided on the first surface of the first electrode to cover the first surface and the through-holes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode unit comprising:
 a first electrode comprising a first surface, a second surface located on a side opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through-holes opening on the first surface and the second surface;   a second electrode opposed to the first surface of the first electrode; and   a porous membrane containing inorganic oxide, provided on the first surface of the first electrode to cover the first surface and the through-holes.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein an opening area of the through-holes on the first surface is 0.01 to 4 mm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The electrode unit of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrode comprises a plurality of first holes opening on the first surface, and a plurality of second holes opening on the second surface, the second holes having a dimension greater than a dimension of the first holes, and
 one second hole communicates with a plurality of first holes to form the through holes.   
     
     
         4 . The electrode unit of  claim 3 , wherein an opening area of the second holes on the second surface is 1 to 1600 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The electrode unit of  claim 3 , wherein a number density of the first holes per unit area is greater than a number density of the second holes per unit area. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first holes have a tapered or curved surface which widens towards the first surface side. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a diaphragm which is provided between the porous membrane and the second electrode, and transmits at least one of an ion and liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode has a porous configuration including a plurality of through-holes. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic oxide of the porous membrane is at least one selected from titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and zircon. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic oxide of the porous membrane is at least one selected from titanium oxide, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, tungsten oxide, zircon and zeolite. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane has irregular pores in a plane and in a three-dimensional manner. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane is provided such that a pore dimension of a surface on the first electrode side is different from a pore dimension of a surface on the second electrode side. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane comprises a first area which is in contact with the first surface of the first electrode, and a second area which covers the through-holes, and
 an imperforate membrane or a porous membrane having a pore-dimension less than a dimension of a surface pore of the second area is further provided on a surface of the first area.   
     
     
         14 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein the porous membrane covers a part of or an entire part of a wall surface defining the through-holes of the first electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode unit of  claim 1 , wherein a space for inputting an electrolyte, or a holder for holding an electrolyte is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         16 . An electrolytic cell comprising:
 an electrolytic chamber; and   the electrode unit of  claim 1 , provided in the electrolytic chamber.   
     
     
         17 . An electrolytic device comprising:
 an electrolytic cell comprising an electrolytic chamber;   the electrode unit of  claim 1 , provided in the electrolytic chamber; and   a power supply which applies voltage to the first and second electrodes of the electrode unit.   
     
     
         18 . The electrolytic device of  claim 17 , wherein the electrode unit electrolyzes an electrolyte containing a chloride ion. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an electrode used for an electrode unit, the method comprising:
 forming a plurality of through-holes on an electrode matrix;   forming a preprocessing membrane by applying a solution containing at least one of an inorganic oxide particle and a precursor to the electrode matrix; and   forming a porous membrane having a large number of pores by burning the preprocessing membrane.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing an electrode used for an electrode unit, the method comprising:
 forming a plurality of through-holes on an electrode matrix;   applying an organic substance to the through-holes and one of surfaces of the electrode matrix;   forming a preprocessing membrane by applying a solution containing at least one of an inorganic oxide particle and a precursor to the other surface of the electrode matrix; and   forming a porous membrane having a large number of pores by burning the preprocessing membrane after removing the organic substance or without removing the organic substance.