Membrane-seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10333157-B2
Application number	US-201515529679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

The invention includes a reinforced membrane-seal assembly that comprises a reinforcing component, ion-conducting material, and seal material. The reinforcing component comprises a central region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from a first surface to a second surface of the reinforcing component, the central region having a first aperture area density; an inner peripheral border region surrounding the central region, where the inner peripheral border region is devoid of apertures; and an outer peripheral border region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the outer peripheral border region having a second aperture area density. The outer peripheral border region surrounds the inner peripheral border region. The ion-conducting material at least partially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component and seal material fills each aperture in the outer peripheral border region of the reinforcing component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly comprising:
(i) a reinforcing component, wherein the reinforcing component is planar and comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the reinforcing component comprises
(a) a central region, the central region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the central region having a first aperture area density;
(b) an inner peripheral border region, wherein the inner peripheral border region surrounds the central region, and wherein the inner peripheral border region is devoid of apertures; and
(c) an outer peripheral border region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface of the reinforcing component to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the outer peripheral border region having a second aperture area density, wherein the outer peripheral border region surrounds the inner peripheral border region;
(ii) ion-conducting material; and
(iii) seal material;
wherein, ion-conducting material at least partially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component and wherein seal material fills each aperture in the outer peripheral border region of the reinforcing component.

2. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second aperture area density is less than the first aperture area density.

3. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the ion-conducting material is flush with at least one of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component.

4. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 3 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

5. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

6. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the ion-conducting material essentially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component.

7. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

8. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

9. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a seal component is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the outer peripheral border region.

10. A catalysed reinforced membrane seal assembly comprising a catalyst component and a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

11. A reinforced membrane seal electrode assembly comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

12. A fuel cell comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 2 .

13. A fuel cell according to claim 12 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

14. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ion-conducting material is flush with at least one of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component.

15. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 14 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

16. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

17. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the ion-conducting material essentially fills each aperture in the central region of the reinforcing component.

18. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a layer of ion-conducting material is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the central region in which the ion-conducting material is flush with the first and/or second surface of the reinforcing component.

19. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the layer of ion-conducting material extends partially or completely across the inner peripheral border region.

20. A reinforced membrane-seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a seal component is present on one or both of the first and second surfaces of the reinforcing component in the outer peripheral border region.

21. A catalysed reinforced membrane seal assembly comprising a catalyst component and a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

22. A reinforced membrane seal electrode assembly comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

23. A fuel cell comprising a reinforced membrane seal assembly according to claim 1 .

24. A fuel cell according to claim 23 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

Assignees

• Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd

Inventors

• Coleman Robert Jeffrey
• O'Sullivan Julie
• Dickinson Angus

Classifications

• H01M8/1062

  characterised by the physical properties of the porous support, e.g. its porosity or thickness · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/1065

  characterised by the form, e.g. perforated or wave-shaped · CPC title

• H01M8/00

  Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof · CPC title

• H01M8/0271 Primary

  Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes · CPC title