Electrochemical reaction device

Abstract

An electrochemical reaction device includes: an electrode layer including a cathode, an ion exchange membrane, and an anode that are stacked in this order; a first flow path structure including an anode-specific flow path as a passage for an electrolytic solution defined by a surface on one side and a cathode-specific flow path as a passage for an electrolytic solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide defined by a surface on the other side; and a second flow path structure including an anode-specific flow path as a passage for an electrolytic solution defined by a surface on one side and a cathode-specific flow path as a passage for an electrolytic solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide defined by a surface on the other side. The first flow path structure, the electrode layer, the second flow path structure, and the electrode layer are stacked in this order repeatedly to form an electrolytic cell stacking structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical reaction device for reducing carbon dioxide, the electrochemical reaction device comprising:
 an electrode layer including a cathode, an ion exchange membrane, and an anode that are stacked in this order;   a first flow path structure including an anode-specific flow path as a passage for an electrolytic solution defined by a surface on one side and a cathode-specific flow path as a passage for a cathode-specific electrolytic solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide defined on a surface on an other side; and   a second flow path structure including an anode-specific flow path as a passage for an anode-specific electrolytic solution defined by a surface on one side and a cathode-specific flow path as a passage for a cathode-specific electrolytic solution containing dissolved carbon dioxide defined by a surface on an other side,   the first flow path structure, the electrode layer, the second flow path structure, and the electrode layer being stacked in this order repeatedly to form an electrolytic cell stacking structure.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrolytic cell stacking structure includes:   a cathode-specific electrolytic solution inlet through which a cathode-specific electrolytic solution is supplied;   a cathode-specific electrolytic solution outlet through which the cathode-specific electrolytic solution after reaction is discharged and which is arranged on the opposite side to the cathode-specific electrolytic solution inlet across the first flow path structure and the second flow path structure;   an anode-specific electrolytic solution inlet through which an anode-specific electrolytic solution is supplied; and   an anode-specific electrolytic solution outlet through which the anode-specific electrolytic solution after reaction is discharged and which is arranged on the opposite side to the anode-specific electrolytic solution inlet across the first flow path structure and the second flow path structure, and   the cathode-specific electrolytic solution inlet, the cathode-specific electrolytic solution outlet, the anode-specific electrolytic solution inlet, and the anode-specific electrolytic solution outlet are arranged in such a manner that a line connecting the cathode-specific electrolytic solution inlet to the cathode-specific electrolytic solution outlet and a line connecting the anode-specific electrolytic solution inlet to the anode-specific electrolytic solution outlet intersect each other as viewed in a stacking direction of the electrolytic cell stacking structure.   
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the electrolytic cell stacking structure,   the cathode-specific electrolytic solution inlet through which a cathode-specific electrolytic solution is supplied and the anode-specific electrolytic solution inlet through which an anode-specific electrolytic solution is supplied are arranged below the first flow path structure and the second flow path structure, and   the cathode-specific electrolytic solution outlet through which the cathode-specific electrolytic solution after reaction is discharged and the anode-specific electrolytic solution outlet through which the anode-specific electrolytic solution after reaction is discharged are arranged above the first flow path structure and the second flow path structure.   
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrolytic cell stacking structure includes an insulating part having elasticity and surrounding a periphery of each of the electrode layer, the first flow path structure, and the second flow path structure.   
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flow path structure includes a plurality of convex anode-side contact parts formed on the surface defining the anode-specific flow path and a plurality of convex cathode-side contact parts formed on the surface defining the cathode-specific flow path,   the second flow path structure includes a plurality of convex anode-side contact parts formed on the surface defining the anode-specific flow path and a plurality of convex cathode-side contact parts formed on the surface defining the cathode-specific flow path,   the anode-side contact parts of the first flow path structure and the cathode-side contact parts of the second flow path structure are arranged at positions corresponding to each other in a stacking direction of the electrolytic cell stacking structure, and   the cathode-side contact parts of the first flow path structure and the anode-side contact parts of the second flow path structure are arranged at positions corresponding to each other in the stacking direction of the electrolytic cell stacking structure.   
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 in each of the first flow path structure and the second flow path structure,   the anode-side contact parts are arranged in a plurality of rows aligned in a direction intersecting a flow direction of an electrolytic solution,   the cathode-side contact parts are arranged in a plurality of rows aligned in a direction intersecting a flow direction of an electrolytic solution, and   the anode-side contact parts and the cathode-side contact parts are arranged alternately in such a manner as to avoid overlap therebetween as viewed in the stacking direction of the electrolytic cell stacking structure.   
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flow path structure has a shape point-symmetrical to the second flow path structure and becomes identical in shape to the second flow path structure by being rotated 180 degrees as viewed in a stacking direction.   
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical reaction device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cathode-specific flow path and the anode-specific flow path each include a flow path guide wall for guiding a flow of an electrolytic solution.