Patent · US Expired

Process for producing a membrane electrode assembly and the membrane electrode assembly produced thereby

US6893761B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

6References

9Claims

0Family size

Assignee

UMICORE AG & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

Joachim Köhler · Ortenburg, DE
Anita Krämer · Neuberg, DE
Karl-Anton Starz · Rodenbach, DE
Knut Fehl · Schlüchtern, DE
Armin Bayer · Alzenau, DE

Key dates

Filing date	May 15, 2002
Grant date	May 17, 2005
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 15, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

The invention comprises a process for making a membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane having two opposite faces, on each face of which is applied a catalyst layer and a gas distribution layer. The two gas distribution layers in the membrane electrode assembly are formed by hydrophobized carbon substrates which, using appropriate inks containing at least one catalyst, dissolved ionomer and solvent, are each coated with a catalyst layer and are then laid on opposite faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane with the catalyst layers still in the moist state. Afterwards, a firm bond between electrolyte membrane, catalyst layers and carbon substrates is produced by treating the membrane electrode assembly at elevated temperature under pressure.

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