Fuel cell electrodes with conduction networks

Patent · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

OSTI ID:1532103

Haug, Andrew T.; Hamrock, Steven J.; Haugen, Gregory M.; Schonewill, Mark A.

A fuel cell electrode layer may include a catalyst, an electronic conductor, and an ionic conductor. Within the electrode layer are a plurality of electronic conductor rich networks and a plurality of ionic conductor rich networks that are interspersed with the electronic conductor rich networks. A volume ratio of the ionic conductor to the electronic conductor is greater in the ionic conductor rich networks than in the electronic conductor rich networks. During operation of a fuel cell that includes the electrode layer, conduction of electrons occurs predominantly within the electronic conductor rich networks and conduction of ions occurs predominantly within the ionic conductor rich networks.

• Research Organization: 3M Innovative Properties Company
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG36-07GO17006
• Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN)
• Patent Number(s): 8,765,327
• Application Number: 12/834,531
• OSTI ID: 1532103
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 2010-07-12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English