Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells

Details Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells

1991-07-29

1993-08-10

Kalafut, Stephen

Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and

With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation

429 42, 427115, H01M 810

Patent

active

052347770

ABSTRACT:
A gas reaction fuel cell incorporates a thin catalyst layer between a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane and a porous electrode backing. The catalyst layer is preferably less than about 10 .mu.m in thickness with a carbon supported platinum catalyst loading less than about 0.35 mgPt/cm.sup.2. The film is formed as an ink that is spread and cured on a film release blank. The cured film is then transferred to the SPE membrane and hot pressed into the surface to form a catalyst layer having a controlled thickness and catalyst distribution. Alternatively, the catalyst layer is formed by applying a Na.sup.+ form of a perfluorosulfonate ionomer directly to the membrane, drying the film at a high temperature, and then converting the film back to the protonated form of the ionomer. The layer has adequate gas permeability so that cell performance is not affected and has a density and particle distribution effective to optimize proton access to the catalyst and electronic continuity for electron flow from the half-cell reaction occurring at the catalyst.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 4262063 (1981-04-01), Kudo et al.
patent: 4369103 (1983-01-01), White
patent: 4804592 (1989-02-01), Vanderborgh et al.
patent: 4876115 (1989-10-01), Raistrick
A. K. Shukla et al., "A Nafion'-Bound Platinized Carbon Electrode For Oxygen Reduction In Solid Polymer Electrolyte Cells," 19 J. Appl. Electrochem., pp. 383-386 (1989).
R. B. Moore et al., "Procedure for Preparing Solution-Cast Perfluorosulfonate Ionomer Films and Membranes," 58 Anal. Chem. pp. 2569-2570 (1986).
C. Liu et al., "Ion-Transporting Composite Membranes," 137 J. Electrochem. Soc., No. 10, pp. 3114-3120 (Oct. 1990).
P. Aldebert, "Preparation and Characterization of SPE Composites for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells," Solid State Ionics 35:3 (1989).

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