Fuel cell membranes and catalytic layers

US7135205B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• nGimat Co. · US

Inventors

• Paul L. Smith · Roswell, US
• Peter Faguy · Suwanee, US
• Andrew Tye Hunt · Atlanta, US
• Charles McKendrie Quillian, V · Stone Mountain, US
• William J. Dalzell · Parrish, US
• Frank Witbrod · Cumming, US
• Stein Lee · Boca Raton, US
• William Harm · Gainesville, US
• Joanne Yardlyne Smalley · Riverdale, US
• Mark Batich · Roswell, US
• William Hoos · Atlanta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 2003
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

To form an ionomer-based catalytic layer on a porous substrate, a heat source (40) is used to dry an ionomer-containing spray (46) so that it does not substantially liquid flow on the substrate (14). The ionomer spray (46) may contain a catalyst. A spray (46) of mixed material for forming the catalytic layer is entrained by a gas stream and is heated and directed to a substrate surface (12). For hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells, catalytic material is incorporated into the proton-conducting membrane (56) to convert diffusing oxygen and hydrogen to water to reduce potential loss at the electrodes and maintain hydration of the proton-conducting membrane (56).