Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868885
- Patent Number(s):
- 5234777
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- membrane; catalyst; layer; fuel; cells; gas; reaction; cell; incorporates; solid; polymer; electrolyte; spe; porous; electrode; preferably; 10; thickness; carbon; supported; platinum; loading; 35; mgpt; cm; film; formed; spread; cured; release; blank; transferred; hot; pressed; surface; form; controlled; distribution; alternatively; applying; na; perfluorosulfonate; ionomer; directly; drying; temperature; converting; protonated; adequate; permeability; performance; affected; density; particle; effective; optimize; proton; access; electronic; continuity; electron; flow; half-cell; occurring; particle distribution; cell performance; fuel cell; distribution effective; hot pressed; catalyst layer; fuel cells; polymer electrolyte; solid polymer; porous electrode; gas reaction; reaction fuel; cell incorporates; reaction occurring; electron flow; hot press; carbon support; carbon supported; membrane catalyst; gas permeability; cell reaction; reaction occur; /429/427/
Citation Formats
Wilson, Mahlon S. Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Wilson, Mahlon S. Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells. United States.
Wilson, Mahlon S. Fri .
"Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868885.
@article{osti_868885,
title = {Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells},
author = {Wilson, Mahlon S},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}
Works referenced in this record:
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journal, October 1986
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