Reduced degradation of ion-exchange membranes in electrochemical fuel cells
US7537857B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A significant problem in PEM fuel cell durability is in premature failure of the ion-exchange membrane and in particular by the degradation of the ion-exchange membrane by reactive hydrogen peroxide species. Such degradation can be reduced or eliminated by the presence of an additive in the anode, cathode or ion-exchange membrane. The additive may be a radical scavenger, a membrane cross-linker, a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst and/or a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer. The presence of the additive in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) may however result in reduced performance of the PEM fuel cell. Accordingly, it may be desirable to restrict the location of the additive to locations of increased susceptibility to membrane degradation such as the inlet and/or outlet regions of the MEA.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.