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Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies with improved power outputs

A conductive electrode and electrode technology, applied in fuel cell components, transportation fuel cell technology, fuel cells, etc., can solve unacceptable problems and achieve the effect of precise design and control

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-01-30
WL GORE & ASSOC INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

Therefore, this method is generally not practically accepted in the industry

Method used

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  • Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies with improved power outputs
  • Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies with improved power outputs
  • Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies with improved power outputs

Examples

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example 1

[0101] Example 1 illustrates an indirect method in which a second catalytically active metal is first deposited on a substrate and then transferred from the substrate to a membrane or electrode.

[0102] 50 Å (Angstrom) platinum coating area (0.01mg / cm 2 ) with EB-PVD was deposited at 1 Å / sec onto thinly sliced ​​PTFE substrate substrates. The catalyst area was then transferred to the membrane by embossing such that the 50 Å catalyst area was bonded to one side of the membrane and centered. The area of ​​the membrane occupied by the transferred catalyst is the effective area. Catalyzed electrodes (0.3mg Pt / cm 2 ) was also contacted on each side of the catalyzed membrane using the printing method so as to cover the active area. Thus, one side of the MEA has Z-gradient platinum regions at the membrane / electrode interface.

[0103] Ready with 25cm 2 The effective area of ​​the MEA are packed in 25cm 2 The active area of ​​the fuel is between the gaskets in the test rack or ...

example 2

[0110] In this example, the direct deposition of an area on the electrode is done with a thickness of two areas. Deposition was accomplished with EB-PVD. Before deposition, the catalytic electrode with Z-gradient deposition had 0.1 mg Pt / cm 2 content. For a sample, the deposition rate was 0.2-0.3 Å / sec to achieve a 50 Å area (0.01 mg Pt / cm 2 ). The second electrode was sprayed at a deposition rate of 0.1 Å / sec to achieve a 5 Å area (0.001 mg Pt / cm 2 ). Both samples were used containing 0.05mg / cm 2 Platinum electrode (anode).

[0111] MEA performance was again estimated for cell pressures of 0 psig and 15 psig. For all cases, the cells were operated at a temperature of 65°C, hydrogen and air were supplied at approximately 0 psig, and humidified to a dew point of 60°C. The flow rates of hydrogen and air were 1.2 and 3.5 times, respectively, the stoichiometric equivalents theoretically required to produce a given cell current output.

[0112] Figure 9 shows the improved ...

example 3

[0118] This example illustrates DC magnetron cathodic vacuum sputtering compared to EB-PVD. An electrode (0.4mg Pt / cm 2 ) is coated by DC magnetron cathode vacuum spraying. The goal is 99.9% pure platinum foil with a thickness of 0.127mm, and the base pressure of the vacuum chamber is maintained at 8×10 -4 torr. In particular, established less than 10 -4 torrr's vacuum, and then suck in high-purity argon to raise the pressure to 8×10 -4 torr. The platinum deposition rate was maintained at about 1 Å / sec to obtain 0.01 mg / cm 2 Platinum content (50 Å). This sputtered electrode was used as a cathode. A non-cathode-coated electrode (0.4mg Pt / cm 2 ) as the anode.

[0119] The performance of the MEA was estimated at 0 psig and at 15 osig for cell pressure. For the case of 0 psig cell pressure, the cell was operated at 70°C with both hydrogen and air supplied at 0 psig, humid to dew points of 55°C and 70°C, respectively. In the case of 15 psig the cell was operated at a tem...

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Abstract

An electrode-membrane combination for use in a fuel cell comprising at least one reactant diffusive, electronically conductive electrode (1, 3) comprising at least one first catalytically active metal and at least one ionically conductive polymer; and at least one ionically conductive membrane (2) contacting the electrode to form an electrode-membrane interfacial region (4, 5), wherein the interfacial region comprises at least one zone comprising at least one second catalytically active metal and having a zone thickness of about 3 angstroms to about 475 angstroms. Surprisingly improved power output is observed. The zone is preferably deposited by electrom beam physical vapor deposition. Substantially spherical modules are observed for the zone from field-emission SEM analysis.

Description

field of invention [0001] The present invention generally relates to fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies having improved power output. In particular, these improved assemblies feature relatively thin bands of catalytically active metal at the membrane-electrode interface in addition to the catalytically active metal in the electrodes. Background technique [0002] Fuel cells continue to show great commercial promise throughout the world as an alternative to conventional energy. As energy shortages become more real, environmental regulations become stricter, and new fuel cell applications emerge, this commercial prospect becomes even wider. See "Fuel Cells", Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Edition, Vol. 8, pp. 1098-1121. [0003] Despite improvements in fuel cell technology, there is a long felt need to increase power output, reduce initial price, improve water management and extend operating life. Reduction of the initial price can be easily achieved by reduc...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): H01M4/86H01M4/88H01M4/92H01M8/00H01M8/02H01M8/10
CPCH01M2250/20Y02T90/32H01M4/8657Y02E60/521H01M2300/0082H01M8/1004Y02E60/50Y02T90/40H01M4/86H01M4/88
Inventor C·A·卡尔旺卡J·H·阿普斯
Owner WL GORE & ASSOC INC
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