Membrane-electrode assembly for a direct methanol fuel cell
US5523177A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) contains a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including an anode porous electrode structure which can operate on a liquid or vapor methanol/water feed in the absence of a liquid electrolyte such as sulfuric acid, a proton-exchange membrane electrolyte, and a porous gas-diffusion cathode. The anode porous electrode structure includes a three-dimensional reduced (Pt--Ru)O.sub.x catalyst particle-ionomer composite structure, whereby the ionomer coats the individual particles and provides a mechanism for continuous proton transport throughout the composite structure, eliminating the need for a liquid acidic electrolyte. The partially reduced (Pt--Ru)O.sub.x particles are individually ionomer coated prior to anode fabrication. The anode porous electrode structure is subsequently bonded to one side of a thin sheet of a solid proton-conducting ionomer membrane and a cathode structure bonded to the opposite side of the membrane, to form a MEA. Insertion of the MEA into appropriate hardware results in fuel cell fabrication.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.