SHEET SILICATE MINERAL AND FUEL CELL INCLUDING INTERCALATION COMPLEX THEREOF AS SOLID ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE

摘要

A solid cation exchange membrane and membrane-electrode joint body for producing an inexpensive solid electrolyte fuel cell of high energy efficiency which enables direct use of an organic fuel without the need to employ a reformer. In particular, a sheet silicate mineral and an electrochemical cell including an intercalation complex thereof as a solid electrolyte membrane. The sheet silicate mineral enables easily producing a membrane with "molecular sieve effect" for target organic fuel through density control and control of aqueous solution components and enables creating a composite membrane on which a catalyst is directly supported. The sheet silicate mineral membrane is constituted of an inorganic material, and the operating temperature thereof can be raised. Thus, the range of choice of catalyst can be expanded. The sheet silicate mineral is abundant in nature, and the unit price thereof is low. An inexpensive direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) of high energy efficiency which permits increasing of operating temperature and attains improvement with respect to crossover phenomenon can be produced from the membrane of sheet silicate mineral. Further, a fuel cell using hydrogen fuel can be produced therefrom.