Patent · US Expired

Measuring method of the specific surface area available for reaction of noble metal catalyst in the electrode of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

US5866423A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 1997
Grant dateFeb 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A measuring method for determining the specific surface area available for reaction of a noble metal catalyst of an electrode for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The method includes measuring the total specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst and the specific surface area of the noble metal catalyst mixed with a polymer electrolyte by detecting the adsorption amounts of carbon monoxide upon exposure to carbon monoxide after reduction in hydrogen, and subtracting the latter from the former. Also provided is an electrode material for use in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell having excellent polarization characteristics by controlling the utilization of a noble metal catalyst determined from the total specific surface area and specific surface area available for reaction of the noble metal catalyst. The electrode material includes a noble metal catalyst powder and a polymer electrolyte, wherein the utilization ratio of the noble metal catalyst is at least 40% of the saturation value of the utilization of the noble metal catalyst powder.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.