Patent · US Expired

Method of forming catalyst layer for fuel cell

US6344428B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 26, 1999
Grant dateFeb 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for preparing a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell electrode and a method for fabricating the PEM fuel cell produced thereby are provided. The method for preparing a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell according to the present invention comprises the steps of (a) adding an MOH solution to a perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI) solution to convert PFSI in the PFSI solution into an M+ form-PFSI solution, wherein M is an alkaline metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K; (b) adding an organic polar solvent having a higher boiling point than that of alcohol remaining in the PFSI solution to a mixed solution obtained in step (a) and heating the mixture at a temperature range of the boiling point of the alcohol to 20° C. higher than the boiling point to remove the remaining alcohol to obtain a pretreated PFSI solution; and (c) mixing the pretreated PFSI solution with Pt/C to form a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell. Since processing stability is improved and the slurry can be easily prepared, Pt loading greater than a conventional level can be achieved by a single coating step…

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