A study on water electrolysis operable under small gravity using water absorbing porous electrolyte and hydrophobic electrode

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630446
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Hiroshige 九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 教授 (70283413)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 水電解 / 微小重力 / 界面プロトン伝導 / 撥水性 / 親水性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study deals with water-absorbing porous electrolyte water electrolysis cell utilizing proton conduction on the surface of inorganic nanoparticles. The aim is to apply this cell for oxygen production in space. Electrolyte, gas-diffusion layer, electrodes are studied and electrolysis cell has been investigated.
By the combination of titanium-sulfate electrolyte, gas-diffusion layer consisting of carbon-PTFE composite, carbon-supported platinum cathode and iridium oxide anode, water electrolysis could operate without influence of gravity. Thus, the methodology for the operating of this water electrolysis cell was established.

Free Research Field

固体電気化学