US20060105225A1 - Membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell and fuel cell system comprising same - Google Patents

Membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell and fuel cell system comprising same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060105225A1
US20060105225A1 US11/272,805 US27280505A US2006105225A1 US 20060105225 A1 US20060105225 A1 US 20060105225A1 US 27280505 A US27280505 A US 27280505A US 2006105225 A1 US2006105225 A1 US 2006105225A1
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Prior art keywords
membrane
electrode assembly
catalyst
ionomer
plasticizer
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Abandoned
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US11/272,805
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English (en)
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Hee-Tak Kim
Hae-Kwon Yoon
Young-Mi Park
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Samsung SDI Co Ltd
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Samsung SDI Co Ltd
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Assigned to SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD. reassignment SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KIM, HEE-TAK, PARK, YOUNG-MI, YOON, HAE-KWON
Publication of US20060105225A1 publication Critical patent/US20060105225A1/en
Priority to US12/755,062 priority Critical patent/US9537156B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88—Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8825—Methods for deposition of the catalytic active composition
    • H01M4/8828—Coating with slurry or ink
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/8605—Porous electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88—Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8878—Treatment steps after deposition of the catalytic active composition or after shaping of the electrode being free-standing body
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/88—Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/8878—Treatment steps after deposition of the catalytic active composition or after shaping of the electrode being free-standing body
    • H01M4/8882—Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/90—Selection of catalytic material
    • H01M4/92—Metals of platinum group
    • H01M4/925—Metals of platinum group supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers
    • H01M4/926—Metals of platinum group supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers on carbon or graphite
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/023—Porous and characterised by the material
    • H01M8/0234—Carbonaceous material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1004—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/86—Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
    • H01M4/90—Selection of catalytic material
    • H01M4/92—Metals of platinum group
    • H01M4/921—Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a fuel cell system comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a membrane-electrode assembly with high power and to a fuel cell system comprising the same.
  • a fuel cell is a power generation system for producing electrical energy through an electrochemical redox reaction of an oxidant and a fuel such as hydrogen or a hydrocarbon-based material such as methanol, ethanol, or natural gas.
  • a fuel such as hydrogen or a hydrocarbon-based material such as methanol, ethanol, or natural gas.
  • a fuel cell can be classified into a phosphoric acid type, a molten carbonate type, a solid oxide type, a polymer electrolyte type, or an alkaline type depending upon the kind of electrolyte used. Although each of these different types of fuel cells operates in accordance with the same basic principles, they may differ from one another in the kind of fuel, the operating temperature, the catalyst, and the electrolyte used.
  • the PEMFC has power characteristics that are superior to conventional fuel cells, as well as a lower operating temperature and faster start and response characteristics. Because of this, the PEMFC can be applied to a wide array of fields such as for transportable electrical sources for automobiles, distributed power sources such as for houses and public buildings, and small electrical sources for electronic devices.
  • a PEMFC is essentially composed of a stack, a reformer, a fuel tank, and a fuel pump.
  • the stack forms a body of the PEMFC
  • the fuel pump provides fuel stored in the fuel tank to the reformer.
  • the reformer reforms the fuel to generate hydrogen gas and supplies the hydrogen gas to the stack.
  • Fuel stored in the fuel tank is pumped to the reformer using power which can be provided by the PEMFC.
  • the reformer reforms the fuel to generate the hydrogen gas, and the hydrogen gas is electrochemically oxidized and the oxidant is electrochemically reduced in the stack to generate the electrical energy.
  • a fuel cell may include a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) in which a liquid fuel is directly introduced to the stack.
  • DOFC direct oxidation fuel cell
  • a DOFC does not require a reformer.
  • the stack for generating the electricity has a structure in which several unit cells, each having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a separator (also referred to as a “bipolar plate”), are stacked adjacent to one another.
  • MEA membrane electrode assembly
  • the MEA is composed of an anode (also referred to as a “fuel electrode” or “oxidation electrode”) and a cathode (also referred to as an “air electrode” or “reduction electrode”) that are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane.
  • the polymer electrolyte membrane can be fabricated using a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer membrane such as Nafion® (by DuPont), Flemion® (by Asahi Glass), Asiplex® (by Asahi Chemical), and Dow XUS® (by Dow Chemical).
  • the electrodes including the catalysts supported on the carbon can be fabricated by binding electrode substrates such as porous carbon paper or carbon cloth with a carbon powder carrying pulverized catalyst particles such as platinum (Pt) or ruthenium (Ru) using a water-repellent binder.
  • An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, wherein a catalyst layer has pores and can maintain a concentration of hydrogen and an oxidant on a surface of a catalyst and realize a high-power fuel cell.
  • Another embodiment of the present invention provides a fuel cell system including the membrane-electrode assembly.
  • a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode facing each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. At least one of the anode and the cathode includes a catalyst layer and an electrode substrate (a reactant diffusion layer).
  • the catalyst layer includes a catalyst and a porous ionomer.
  • the polymer electrolyte membrane contacts one side of the catalyst layer and the electrode substrate contacts the other side of the catalyst layer.
  • a fuel cell system includes at least one electricity generating element for generating electricity through oxidation of fuel and reduction of an oxidant, a fuel supplier for providing fuel to the electricity generating element, and an oxidant supplier for supplying the oxidant to the electricity generating element.
  • the electricity generating element includes the above membrane-electrode assembly and separators positioned at both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly.
  • the porous ionomer layer has a porosity ranging from about 40 volume % to about 80 volume %.
  • the porous ionomer layer has a pore size ranging from about 10 nm to about 1,000 nm.
  • the porous ionomer layer is present on a surface of the catalyst.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing processes of forming a porous ionomer layer included in the catalyst layer of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a fuel cell system according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing measurement results of voltage to current of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1.
  • a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a cathode and an anode facing each other, and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween.
  • the cathode and the anode include each a catalyst layer which includes a catalyst (preferably, a metal catalyst).
  • Fuel is supplied to the anode and an oxidant is supplied to the cathode.
  • the fuel is oxidized at the anode to generate protons and electrons, and then the protons are transferred to the cathode through a polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrons are transferred to the cathode through an out-circuit.
  • the transferred protons and electrons are reacted with the oxidant to generate water and electrical energy.
  • the surface area of the catalyst to participate in the electrochemical reaction should be large, and the concentration of reactants on the surface of the catalyst should be maintained to be high.
  • an ionomer is present to increase transfer of protons.
  • the ionomer layer that acts as an ion conductor in the catalyst layer has small pores and thereby reactants such as fuel and the oxidant can easily pass through 11 the porous ionomer layer.
  • the fuel and oxidant can be present at a high concentration on a surface of the metal catalyst to realize a high power membrane-electrode assembly.
  • the porous ion conductive ionomer allows the reactants to pass through the pores and be quickly transferred to the surface of the metal catalyst.
  • the path between an electrode substrate and the surface of the catalyst is shorter compared to a catalyst layer without pores, and thus the reactant can be quickly transferred, and a limit for fuel cell performance due to a mass transfer limit can be overcome.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preparation process of the porous ion conductive ionomer.
  • a plasticizer 2 is added to a mixture including a metal catalyst 6 and an ion conductive ionomer 4 to prepare a composition for forming a catalyst layer, and the composition is coated on an electrode substrate to form a catalyst layer having an ionomer/plasticizer mixed layer thereon and to fabricate an electrode.
  • the electrode including the catalyst layer is dipped in a solvent that can dissolve the plasticizer to extract the plasticizer 2 and to form the pores 8 in the ionomer layer.
  • the ionomer layer may have porosity ranging from about 40 volume % to about 80 volume %. When the porosity is less than 40 volume %, reactant fluids are not diffused smoothly. When it is more than 80 volume %, resistance against ion transfer increases.
  • the pores may have a pore size of about 10 nm to about 1000 nm.
  • the pose size is less than 10 nm, reactant fluids are not diffused smoothly.
  • the large pores may prevent formation of an ionic transfer pathway.
  • the electrode for a fuel cell according to the present invention includes an electrode substrate and a catalyst layer, and the catalyst layer includes a porous ionomer polymer layer having pores.
  • the electrode for a fuel cell is prepared by coating a composition for forming a catalyst layer onto one side of an electrode substrate and drying it to form a catalyst layer. Subsequently, the electrode substrate with the catalyst layer is dipped in a solvent that can dissolve the plasticizer to extract it and to form pores in the ionomer polymer layer.
  • the catalyst composition includes an ionomer polymer for a binder, a metal catalyst, a plasticizer, and a dispersion solvent.
  • the ionomer polymer is an ion conductive polymer and transfers protons.
  • the ionomer polymer has an equivalent weight (EW) ranging from about 500 to about 2,000.
  • the micropores are three-dimensionally connected within the ionomer to impart an ion transfer path.
  • the ionomer may be any proton conductive polymer having a cation exchange group selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group, a carboxylic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphonic acid group, and derivatives thereof, at its side chain.
  • Non-limiting examples of the proton conductive polymer include perfluoro-based polymers, benzimidazole-based polymers, polyether-based polymer, polyimide-based polymers, polyetherimide-based polymers, polyamide-based polymers, polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, polysulfone-based polymers, polyethersulfone-based polymers, polyetherketone-based polymers, polyether-etherketone-based polymers, and polyphenylquinoxaline-based polymers.
  • At least one ionomer may include but is not limited to a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(perfluorosulfonic acid), poly(perfluorocarboxylic acid), co-polymers of tetrafluoroethylene and fluorovinylether containing sulfonic acid groups, defluorinated polyetherketone sulfides, aryl ketones, poly(2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole), and poly(2,5-benzimidazole).
  • a compound having hydrophilicity and/or hydrophobicity and a number average molecular weight ranging from 200 to 50,000 may be used.
  • the molecular weight of the plasticizer is less than 200, the plasticizer may volatilize during fabrication of an electrode and a small amount of the plasticizer may remain. Therefore, it is difficult to make pores by extracting the plasticizer.
  • the molecular weight is more than 50,000, entanglement of the plasticizer occurs excessively and thereby the plasticizer is not easily extracted.
  • the plasticizer includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a C1 to C10 polyalkylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; a C1 to C10 polyalkylene oxide such as polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide; a C1 to C10 poly(alkyl)acrylic acid such as polyacrylic acid and polymethacrylic acid; an aromatic or fluoro-based polymer such as polystyrene having a sulfonic acid group and polyfluoro sulfonic acid; and a cellulose-based polymer.
  • a C1 to C10 polyalkylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol
  • a C1 to C10 polyalkylene oxide such as polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide
  • a C1 to C10 poly(alkyl)acrylic acid such as polyacrylic acid and polymethacrylic acid
  • an aromatic or fluoro-based polymer such as polystyrene having a
  • the weight ratio of the plasticizer to the ionomer may be from 20:80 to 70:30, and preferably from 40:60 to 60:40.
  • the amount of the plasticizer is less than 20 weight %, sufficient pores may not be made, and when it is more than 70 weight %, the pores may prevent formation of an ionic transfer pathway resulting in increase resistance against ion transfer.
  • the dispersion solvent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and a mixture thereof.
  • the dispersion solvent is an alcohol-based solvent, it may be used with water.
  • the extraction solvent for the plasticizer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an alcohol-based solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and so on; an ether-based solvent such as dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, and so on; tetrahydrofuran; and a mixture thereof.
  • an alcohol-based solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and so on
  • an ether-based solvent such as dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, and so on
  • tetrahydrofuran and a mixture thereof.
  • the ionomer polymer is dispersed in the composition for forming a catalyst layer.
  • the composition may be coated using screen printing, spray coating, or a doctor blade method depending on the viscosity thereof, but is not limited thereto.
  • the catalyst including a porous ionomer polymer layer may be formed using a catalyst composition which includes an ionomer polymer for a binder, a metal catalyst, fumed silica, and a dispersion solvent.
  • the fumed silica may have a specific surface area ranging from 100 to 1200 m 2 /g, and a particle size of 10 nm to 1000 nm.
  • the weight ratio of the fumed silica to the ionomer may be from 10:90 to 50:50, and preferably from 30:70 to 40:60.
  • the amount of the fumed silica is less than 10 weight %, sufficient pores may not be formed, which prevents diffusion of reactant fluids, and when it is more than 50 weight %, the pores may prevent formation of an ionic transfer pathway resulting in increased resistance against ion transfer.
  • the composition for forming a catalyst layer is coated onto one side of an electrode substrate and fired to form a catalyst layer including the porous ionomer polymer layer.
  • the composition may be coated using screen printing, spray coating, or a doctor blade method depending on the viscosity thereof, but is not limited thereto.
  • the firing may be performed at a temperature ranging from 60 to 130° C.
  • the catalyst layer of the electrode preferably includes a metal catalyst which enables a related reaction (the oxidation of fuel and the reduction of the oxidant).
  • Suitable choices for the metal catalyst include at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, ruthenium, osmium, a platinum-ruthenium alloy, a platinum-osmium alloy, a platinum-palladium alloy, and a platinum-M alloy where a suitable M is at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn.
  • the metal catalyst is preferably supported on a carrier.
  • the carrier may include carbon such as acetylene black, graphite, and so on, or an inorganic material particle such as alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, and so on.
  • the catalyst is a commercially available catalyst, or a produced product in which a noble 11 metal material is supported on the carrier. Since the process to support the noble metal on a carrier is known to this art, even though it is omitted from this description, one skilled in the art may easily understand the present invention.
  • the electrode substrate supports the catalyst layer and enables a reaction fluid to diffuse into the catalyst layer.
  • the electrode substrate may include carbon paper or carbon cloth, but is not limited thereto. It may be treated with a fluorine-based polymer in order to provide a water repellant property so as to prevent deterioration of reactant diffusion efficiency by water generated during driving of the fuel cell.
  • the fluorine-based polymer includes polyvinylidenefluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylenepropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, a fluoroethylene polymer, and so on.
  • the electrode may further include porous layers in order to increase the reactant diffusion effects between the electrode substrate and the catalyst layers.
  • the porous layer may be formed by coating a composition including a conductive powder, a binder, and an ionomer as needed.
  • the conductive powder with small diameter particles can include carbon powder, carbon black, acetylene black, activated carbon, or a nano-carbon such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanowire, carbon nanohoms, carbon nanorings, and the like.
  • the binder can be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride, copolymers of polyvinylidenefluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP), polyvinylalcohol, cellulose acetate, and so on.
  • the present invention also provides a membrane-electrode assembly including the above electrode.
  • the membrane-electrode assembly is fabricated by positioning a polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode and cathode and firing.
  • the cathode and anode may be the above-described electrode.
  • the polymer electrolyte membrane includes a proton conductive polymer.
  • the proton conductive polymer for the electrolyte membrane of the present invention may be any polymer resin having a cation exchange group selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic acid group, a carboxylic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphonic acid group, and derivatives thereof at its side chain.
  • the proton-conducting polymer may be selected from the group consisting of perfluoro-based polymers, benzimidazole-based polymers, polyether-based polymers, polyimide-based polymers, polyetherimide-based polymers, polyamide-based polymer, polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, polysulfone-based polymers, polyethersulfone-based polymers, polyetherketone-based polymers, polyether-etherketone-based polymers, and polyphenylquinoxaline-based polymers.
  • At least one proton-conducting polymer may include but is not limited to a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(perfluorosulfonic acid), poly(perfluorocarboxylic acid), co-polymers of tetrafluoroethylene and fluorovinylether containing sulfonic acid groups, defluorinated polyetherketone sulfides, aryl ketones, poly(2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole), and poly(2,5-benzimidazole).
  • a proton-conducting polymer included in a polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell is not limited to these polymers.
  • a fuel cell system of the present invention includes at least one electricity generating element, a fuel supplier, and an oxidant supplier.
  • the electricity generating element includes at least at least one unit cell where the above membrane-electrode assembly is positioned between separators having reactant flow channels and cooling channels.
  • the fuel cell system generates electricity through an oxidation of fuel and reduction of an oxidant.
  • the fuel includes hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing hydrocarbon.
  • the oxidant includes air or pure oxygen.
  • the fuel supplier supplies fuel to the electricity generating element, and the oxidant supplier supplies the oxidant to the electricity generating element.
  • FIG. 2 The schematic structure of the fuel cell system according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 and will be described below referring to the drawing.
  • the fuel cell system 100 includes a stack 7 which includes at least one electricity generating element 19 for generating electrical energy through oxidation of fuel and reduction of an oxidant, a fuel supplier 1 , and an oxidant supplier 5 .
  • the fuel supplier 1 is equipped with a fuel storage tank 9 , and a fuel pump 11 connected to the fuel tank 9 .
  • the fuel pump 11 discharges fuel stored in the fuel tank 9 with a predetermined pumping force.
  • the oxidant supplier 5 for supplying oxidant to the electricity generating element 19 of the stack 7 is equipped with at least one pump 13 to provide the oxidant with a predetermined pumping force.
  • the electricity generating element 19 includes a membrane-electrode assembly 21 which performs oxidation of fuel and oxidant reduction, and separators 23 and 25 which are positioned at both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly and provide fuel and oxidant to the membrane-electrode assembly 21 .
  • fuel is supplied to the anode and an oxidant is supplied to the cathode to generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between the anode and cathode.
  • an oxidant is supplied to the cathode to generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between the anode and cathode.
  • hydrogen or an organic raw material is oxidized, and at the cathode, the oxidant is reduced so that a voltage difference between the electrodes occurs.
  • the carbon layer including the catalyst layer was dried and was dipped in methanol, which is capable of dissolving the plasticizer, at 40° C. for 2 hours to extract the plasticizer and form an electrode including the porous ionomer layer.
  • Two electrodes fabricated as above were positioned as an anode and a cathode at both sides of a poly(perfluorosulfonic acid) membrane (Nafion® of the DuPont Company) and the whole was fired at 130° C. for 1 minute and hot-pressed to fabricate a membrane-electrode assembly.
  • a poly(perfluorosulfonic acid) membrane Nafion® of the DuPont Company
  • the membrane-electrode assembly was inserted between two gasket sheets and was then positioned between two separators having predetermined shaped reactant flow channels and cooling channels. Thereafter, it was interposed between copper end plates and pressed to fabricate a unit cell.
  • a unit cell was fabricated by the same method as in Example 1, except that polyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight of 300 was used as the plasticizer.
  • a unit cell was fabricated by the same method as in Example 1, except that the plasticizer was not added to the catalyst slurry. In the electrode according to Comparative Example 1, the porous ionomer layer was not formed.
  • the electrodes according to Examples 1 and 2 including the porous ionomer layer show better performance characteristics than those of Comparative Example 1.
  • the electrode for a fuel cell of the present invention includes a porous ionomer layer in which reactants are transferred to the surface of the catalyst through pores.
  • the porous ionomer layer reduces a path between the electrode substrate and the surface of the catalyst, and thereby the transferring rate of the reactant become fast and a high concentration of reactants can be present on the surface of the electrode to realize a high power membrane-electrode assembly and fuel cell system.

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US20200176785A1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2020-06-04 Korea Institute Of Energy Research Electrode manufacturing method to suppress rearrangement of ionomers due to elution of platinum of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
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CN116004050A (zh) * 2022-12-27 2023-04-25 海卓动力(青岛)能源科技有限公司 燃料电池用高沸点催化层油墨及制备方法

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US8293404B2 (en) 2006-09-14 2012-10-23 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Catalyst structure body for fuel cell, manufacture method therefor, membrane-electrode assembly, and fuel cell
WO2008047191A3 (en) * 2006-09-14 2008-08-21 Toyota Motor Co Ltd Catalyst structure body for fuel cell, manufacture method therefor, membrane-electrode assembly, and fuel cell
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WO2008047191A2 (en) * 2006-09-14 2008-04-24 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Catalyst structure body for fuel cell, manufacture method therefor, membrane-electrode assembly, and fuel cell
EP2169746A1 (en) * 2007-06-15 2010-03-31 Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited Catalyst ink, method for producing catalyst ink, method for producing membrane-electrode assembly, membrane-electrode assembly produced by the method, and fuel cell
EP2169746A4 (en) * 2007-06-15 2012-06-20 Sumitomo Chemical Co CATALYTIC INK, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CATALYTIC INK, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY, MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY MANUFACTURED BY THE PROCESS AND FUEL CELL
US20110256472A1 (en) * 2010-04-16 2011-10-20 Cheil Industries Inc. Catalyst Slurry Composition for Fuel Cell Electrode, Catalytic Layer for Fuel Cell Electrode Using the Catalyst Slurry Composition, Method for Producing the Catalytic Layer and Membrane-Electrode Assembly Including the Catalytic Layer
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EP2951125A4 (en) * 2013-02-01 2016-06-29 Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc LIQUID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL ELECTRODES WITH SOLUBLE FLUOROPOLYMERIC COATING AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF
US20200176785A1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2020-06-04 Korea Institute Of Energy Research Electrode manufacturing method to suppress rearrangement of ionomers due to elution of platinum of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
WO2021216713A1 (en) * 2020-04-23 2021-10-28 Nevada Research & Innovation Corporation Electrochemical co2 reduction to methane
WO2022146961A1 (en) * 2020-12-29 2022-07-07 Hyzon Motors Inc. Dry fuel cell electrodes and methods of manufacture
US11777104B2 (en) 2020-12-29 2023-10-03 Hyzon Motors Inc. Dry fuel cell electrodes and methods of manufacture
CN116004050A (zh) * 2022-12-27 2023-04-25 海卓动力(青岛)能源科技有限公司 燃料电池用高沸点催化层油墨及制备方法

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US9537156B2 (en) 2017-01-03
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US20100196594A1 (en) 2010-08-05
JP4917794B2 (ja) 2012-04-18

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