PURPOSE: To improve the reverse diffusive migration of water by arranging the anode and the cathode sandwiching a solid polyelectrolyte film therebetween so as to provide the specific shortest distance.
CONSTITUTION: The anode 1 for electrolyzing water and producing O2 is constructed of an anodic substrate 14 composed of an expanded metal of a Pt-plated Ti and an anodic catalyst layer 26 and the cathode 2 for producing water and consuming O2 is constructed of a cathodic substrate 15 and a cathodic catalyst layer 27. A solid polyelectrolyte film 3 having about 130μm thickness is sandwiched between the anodic substrate 14 and the cathodic substrate 15, hot pressed and bitten into both the electrode substrates to form the anodic catalyst layer 26 and the cathodic catalyst layer 27, which are arranged so as to provide ≤50μm shortest distance 16 between both the electrodes. This eletrochemical regulator for the O2 concentration is capable of remarkably increasing the reverse diffusive migration of water from the cathode 2 into the anode 1. Water produced in the cathode 2 and water migrated into the cathode 2 are mostly returned through the solid polyelectrolyte film 3 to the anode 1. Thereby, a reservoir for the produced water, a reservoir for feed water and a pump can be omitted.
Toshiaki Murahashi
Yamauchi Shiro
