Method of manufacturing cathode device for fuel cell

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a cathode device includes providing a porous substrate and forming a nitrogen-doped graphene layer in the substrate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a fuel cell cathode, comprising:
 providing a porous substrate; and   forming a nitrogen-doped graphene layer in the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the forming of the nitrogen-doped graphene layer includes:   adding graphene oxide to the substrate; and   nitrogen-doping the graphene oxide to form the nitrogen-doped graphene layer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the forming of the nitrogen-doped graphene layer further includes:   adding graphite to the substrate,   wherein the nitrogen-doping of the graphene oxide is performed after the adding of the graphite to the substrate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the nitrogen-doping of the graphene oxide includes:   applying microwave energy to the substrate containing the graphite and the graphene oxide in the presence of a gas containing nitrogen.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the gas includes an ammonia gas.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the adding of the graphite to the substrate includes drawing at least one line containing the graphite on a first surface of the substrate and then spreading the graphite outwardly adjacent to the first surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the adding of the graphene oxide to the substrate includes applying a solution containing the graphene oxide to the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the solution is applied to the first surface of the substrate and drawn into the substrate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the solution is drawn into the substrate by applying an absorbent material to a second surface of the substrate, and   wherein the first surface and the second surface face each other.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the adding of the graphene oxide to the substrate is performed subsequent to the drawing and spreading the graphite onto the substrate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the substrate is saturated in liquid subsequent to the adding of the graphite to the substrate but prior to the applying of the graphene oxide to the substrate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the liquid includes water.   
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a fuel cell electrode, comprising:
 providing a substrate having a passage channel, a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, wherein the passage channel is formed of a plurality of pores connecting to each other so that the passage channel extends from the first surface to the second surface,   forming a nitrogen-doped graphene layer within the plurality of pores connected to each other to form the passage channel so that the nitrogen-doped graphene layer covers an inside of the passage channel,   wherein an air is received from the second surface of the substrate and an oxygen reduction reaction is catalyzed by the nitrogen-doped graphene layer so that the oxygen reduction reaction generates a byproduct including water or elemental oxygen, and   wherein the byproduct of the oxygen reduction reaction is discharged from the plurality of pores of the passage channel to the first surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming graphite disposed on the first surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the nitrogen-doped graphene layer is doped with nitrogen atoms.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the forming of the nitrogen-doped graphene layer includes:   adding graphene oxide to the substrate; and   nitrogen-doping the graphene oxide to form the nitrogen-doped graphene layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the forming of the nitrogen-doped graphene layer further includes:   adding graphite to the substrate,   wherein the nitrogen-doping of the graphene oxide is performed after the adding of the graphite to the substrate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the nitrogen-doping of the graphene oxide includes:   applying microwave energy to the substrate containing the graphite and the graphene oxide in the presence of a gas containing nitrogen.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a fuel cell electrode, comprising:
 providing a substrate having a passage channel, a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, wherein the passage channel is formed of a plurality of pores connecting to each other so that the passage channel extends from the first surface to the second surface;   adding graphene oxide and graphite to the substrate; and   applying microwave energy to the substrate with the graphene oxide and the graphite in the presence of a gas containing nitrogen so that a nitrogen-doped graphene layer is formed within the plurality of pores, thereby forming a nitrogen-doped graphene layer on an inside of the passage channel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the nitrogen-doped graphene layer includes a graphitic nitrogen atom, a pyridinic nitrogen atom or a pyrrolic nitrogen atom.