Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells

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

1991-12-20

1993-05-18

Kalafut, Stephen

Coating processes

Electrical product produced

Fuel cell part

429 42, H01M 488

Patent

active

052119840

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:
patent: 4369103 (1983-01-01), White
patent: 4804592 (1989-02-01), Vanderborgh et al.
patent: 4876115 (1989-10-01), Raistrick
patent: 4931168 (1990-06-01), Watanabe et al.
A. K. Shukla et al., "A Nafion.RTM.-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).

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