Enhancement of pumping performance of electrochemical hydrogen pump by modified electrode

Kawamura, Yoshinori; Arita, Tadaaki; Isobe, Kanetsugu; Shu, Wataru; Yamanishi, Toshihiko

Electrochemical hydrogen pump with ceramic proton conductor membrane has been proposed to apply for a blanket tritium recovery system (BTR) of a fusion reactor. SrCeYbO (SCO) is one of the candidates of membrane. Modification of electrode is one of the methods to enhance the hydrogen transportation capability. In this work, the electrodes of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) were attached to the SCO sample by the sputtering method (sputtering electrode), and its electric conductivity and proton conductivity were measured. Then, they were compared with that of the usual Pt paste electrode. Hydrogen transportation capability was enhanced when the sputtering electrode was applied. Especially, in case of the Pd sputtering electrode, the current density which was about 4 or 5times larger than the usual Pt paste electrode was observed at 0.1% of H concentration.