摘要:
The present invention provides a porous electrode substrate that has high sheet strength, low production cost, and sufficient gas permeability and electrical conductivity, and a method for producing the same. In the present invention, the porous electrode substrate is produced by producing a precursor sheet including short carbon fibers (A), and one or more types of short precursor fibers (b) that undergo oxidation and/or one or more types of fibrillar precursor fibers (b') that undergo oxidation, all of which are dispersed in a two-dimensional plane, subjecting the precursor sheet to entanglement treatment to form a three-dimensional entangled structure, then impregnating the precursor sheet with carbon powder and fluorine-based resin, and further heat treating the precursor sheet at a temperature of 150°C or higher and lower than 400°C. This porous electrode substrate includes a three-dimensional entangled structure including short carbon fibers (A) dispersed in a three-dimensional structure, joined together via oxidized fibers (B), short carbon fibers (A) and oxidized fibers (B) being further joined together via carbon powder and fluorine-based resin.
摘要:
According to the present invention, a porous electrode substrate with greater sheet strength, lower production cost, and excellent gas permeability and conductivity as well as its manufacturing method are provided. Also provided are a precursor sheet for forming such a substrate, and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell containing such a substrate. The method for manufacturing such a porous electrode substrate includes the following steps [1] ∼ [3]: [1] a step for manufacturing a sheet material in which short carbon fibers (A) are dispersed; [2] a step for manufacturing a precursor sheet by adding a water-soluble phenolic resin and/or water-dispersible phenolic resin to the sheet material; and [3] a step for carbonizing the precursor sheet at a temperature of 1000°C or higher. The present invention also relates to a porous electrode substrate obtained by such a manufacturing method as well as a precursor sheet to be used for manufacturing the substrate, a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.