Method of reducing fuel cell performance degradation of an electrode comprising porous components
US6306536A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved method reduces fuel cell performance degradation of an electrode comprising porous components. Electrochemical solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells typically have present therein a liquid which expands upon freezing, such as, for example water. The presence of such a liquid within the pores of the electrode components may cause performance degradation of the liquid freezes. The present method comprises employing an impregnant within at least some of the pores of the electrode components. The impregnant inhibits the deterioration of porous fuel cell components caused by expansion of the liquid within the pores when the fuel cell components are subjected to a temperature below the freezing temperature of the liquid. Preferably the impregnant does not expand when changing phases from a liquid to a solid. The impregnant may comprise an organic fluid, an organic acid, an inorganic acid, a polymer or dispersion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.