Electrode for electrolysis device, electrolysis device, and method for generating electrolysis product material

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electrode for an electrolysis device, which allows performance of a catalyst to be efficiently exhibited in an electrochemical reaction of reducing an electrolysis reactant to generate an electrolysis product material. Specifically, a carbon fiber that has a structure in which the carbon fiber contains a part of and/or a whole of a catalyst particle is used as a cathode electrode to greatly improve adherence force of the catalyst particle and enable efficient generation of an electrolysis product material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing a reactant electrochemically with an electrolysis device to generate a product material, the method comprising:
 (a) preparing the electrolysis device comprising a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a solid electrolyte membrane;   wherein   the cathode electrode includes a carbon fiber;   the carbon fiber includes a first catalyst particle and a second catalyst particle;   an inside of the carbon fiber is filled with carbon;   at least a part of the first catalyst particle is located on a surface of the carbon fiber;   the second catalyst particle is located in the inside of the carbon fiber so as to be surrounded by the carbon with which the inside of the carbon fiber is filled;   the anode electrode has a region formed of a metal or metal compound;   a first electrolyte solution is stored in the cathode chamber;   a second electrolyte solution is stored in the anode chamber;   the cathode electrode is in contact with the first electrolyte solution;   the anode electrode is in contact with the second electrolyte solution;   the first electrolyte solution contains the reactant; and   the solid electrolyte membrane separates the anode chamber from the cathode chamber; and   (b) applying a voltage between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode to reduce the reactant on at least one of the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle have a mean particle size of not more than 100 nanometers.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a ratio by weight of the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle to the carbon fiber is not less than 5% and not more than 20%.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrolysis device further comprises a reference electrode of Ag/AgCl.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the region is formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, platinum, gold, silver, copper, titanium, iridium oxide, and an alloy thereof.   
     
     
         6 . An electrolysis device for reducing a reactant electrochemically to generate a product material, the electrolysis device comprising:
 a cathode chamber;   an anode chamber;   a cathode electrode;   an anode electrode;   a solid electrolyte membrane; and   a power source, wherein   the cathode electrode includes a carbon fiber;   the carbon fiber includes a first catalyst particle and a second catalyst particle;   an inside of the carbon fiber is filled with carbon;   at least a part of the first catalyst particle is located on a surface of the carbon fiber;   the second catalyst particle is located in the inside of the carbon fiber so as to be surrounded by the carbon with which the inside of the carbon fiber is filled;   the anode electrode has a region formed of a metal or metal compound;   a first electrolyte solution is stored in the cathode chamber;   a second electrolyte solution is stored in the anode chamber;   the cathode electrode is in contact with the first electrolyte solution;   the anode electrode is in contact with the second electrolyte solution;   the first electrolyte solution contains the reactant;   the solid electrolyte membrane separates the anode chamber from the cathode chamber; and   the power source is capable of applying a voltage between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.   
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle has a mean particle size of not more than 100 nanometers.   
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 a ratio by weight of the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle to the carbon fiber is not less than 5% and not more than 20%.   
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the electrolysis device further comprises a reference electrode of Ag/AgCl.   
     
     
         10 . The electrolysis device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the anode electrode is formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, platinum, gold, silver, copper, titanium, iridium oxide, and an alloy thereof.   
     
     
         11 . A cathode electrode used for reducing a reactant electrochemically to generate a product material, the cathode electrode comprising:
 a carbon fiber,   wherein   the carbon fiber includes a first catalyst particle and a second catalyst particle;   an inside of the carbon fiber is filled with carbon;   at least a part of the first catalyst particle is located on a surface of the carbon fiber; and   the second catalyst particle is located in the inside of the carbon fiber so as to be surrounded by the carbon with which the inside of the carbon fiber is filled.   
     
     
         12 . The cathode electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle have a mean particle size of not more than 100 nanometers.   
     
     
         13 . The cathode electrode according to  claim 11 , wherein
 a ratio by weight of the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle to the carbon fiber is not less than 5% and not more than 20%.