Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells
- Los Alamos, NM
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.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5211984
- OSTI ID:
- 868786
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Procedure for preparing solution-cast perfluorosulfonate ionomer films and membranes
|
journal | October 1986 |
Ion‐Transporting Composite Membranes: III . Selectivity and Rate of Ion Transport in Nafion‐Impregnated Gore‐Tex Membranes Prepared by a High‐Temperature Solution Casting Method
|
journal | October 1990 |
A Nafion�-bound platinized carbon electrode for oxygen reduction in solid polymer electrolyte cells
|
journal | May 1989 |
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Membrane catalyst layer for fuel cells
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Related Subjects
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
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