Membrane electrode assembly with multi-layer catalyst

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016204447-A1
Application number	US-201514592181-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2015
Priority date	Jan 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane, a first layer contacting the membrane and consisting essentially of catalyst particles comprising non-carbon metal oxide support particles and precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles, a second layer of carbon particles on the first layer and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the second layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a membrane; a first layer contacting the membrane and consisting essentially of catalyst particles comprising non-carbon metal oxide support particles and precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles; a second layer of carbon particles on the first layer; and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the second layer.

2 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are activated carbon particles.

3 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are carbon black.

4 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second layer further comprises an ionomer mixed with the carbon particles.

5 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second layer further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene mixed with the carbon particles.

6 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the precious metal particles are platinum.

7 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the non-carbon metal oxide support particles comprise a non-conductive metal oxide and a conductive metal oxide.

8 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 7 , wherein the non-conductive metal oxide is titanium dioxide and the conductive metal oxide is ruthenium oxide.

9 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 8 , wherein the ruthenium oxide is one or both of ruthenium dioxide and ruthenium tetroxide.

10 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 8 , wherein the ruthenium oxide is deposited onto the titanium dioxide to form the non-carbon metal oxide support particles.

11 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 8 , wherein the titanium dioxide is a modified titanium dioxide doped with a dopant.

12 . A composite catalyst for a membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a first layer configured to contact a membrane of the membrane electrode assembly, the first layer consisting essentially of catalyst particles comprising non-carbon metal oxide support particles of titanium dioxide and oxides of ruthenium, and precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles; and a second layer contacting the first layer and configured to be positioned between the first layer and a gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly, the second layer comprising carbon particles.

13 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the first layer is determined based catalyst activity requirements and a concentration of the oxides of ruthenium, and a thickness of the second layer is determined to optimize a total thickness of an electrode catalyst layer.

14 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the carbon particles are activated carbon particles.

15 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the carbon particles are carbon black.

16 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the second layer further comprises an ionomer mixed with the carbon particles.

17 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the second layer further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene mixed with the carbon particles.

18 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the precious metal particles are platinum.

19 . The composite catalyst of claim 12 , wherein the titanium dioxide is a modified titanium dioxide doped with a dopant.

20 . The composite catalyst of claim 19 , wherein the dopant is one of both of niobium and tantalum.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Dale Nilesh
• Huang Kan
• Niangar Ellazar
• Atienza Dianne

Classifications

• H01M4/9075 Primary

  Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers (H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/8663

  Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for catalytic active masses, e.g. binders, fillers · CPC title

• H01M4/925 Primary

  supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers · CPC title

• H01M8/1002

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M8/0239

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title