Catalytic Effect of Metal Oxide Hydrates on Electrolytic Dissociation of Water in a Bipolar Membrane

Go TUJI, Kazumasa WATANABE, Yoichi JITSUISHI, Hirotaka SUZUKI, Kazutoshi IWAMOTO*, Shoichiro YOSHIDA† and Manabu SENO††

Department of Material Science and Technology, School of High-Technology for Human Welfare, Tokai University; 317 Nishino, Numazu-shi 410-0395 Japan
† Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo; 7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 Japan
†† Department of Science and Technology, Nihon University; 1-8 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 Japan

Electrolytic dissociation of water is accelerated by metal oxide hydrates incorporated in a bipolar membrane. In order to clarify the mechanism of catalytic effect, bipolar membranes incorporated with Al (III)-, Rh (III)-, Zr (IV)- and Ta (V) oxide hydrate were prepared and current density-potential difference curves were measured across these membranes. The current density increased by the treatment with these metal oxide hydrates and is dependent on the molar ratio [OH|]/[Mn+] (Mn+=Al3+, Rh3+, Zr4+, Ta5+). These results suggest that water molecules coordinated to metal ions play an important role in the dissociation of water in the bipolar membrane.


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