METHOD FOR PRODUCING GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a gas diffusion electrode, by which the gas diffusion electrode having improved oxygen reducing performance in comparison with conventional ones in the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal halide such as sodium chloride using an ion exchange membrane can be produced without forming a fluoride of a rare earth in a thermal decomposition treatment process of a gas diffusion electrode using a catalyst comprising a noble metal and a rare earth oxide. SOLUTION: In the method for producing the gas diffusion electrode, a catalyst-supporting electroconductive carrier, a fluororesin, and a surfactant are used. When an electrode catalyst is prepared, the method for producing the gas diffusion electrode is characterized by adding an alkali metal salt into an aqueous solution of a noble metal salt and a salt of a rare earth, then firing the resulting solution to form the catalyst-supporting electroconductive carrier on which an electrode catalyst of the noble metal and the rare earth oxide is supported, dispersing the formed carrier, the fluororesin, and the surfactant into water, kneading the resulting mixture, making the kneaded substance into a sheet, burying a current collecting body in the sheet, and after heat treating, performing hot press. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT