Fuel cell electrode having non-ionomer proton-conducting material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016226074-A1
Application number	US-201514613460-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An active material layers for a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes metal oxide particles, a non-ionomer proton conductor and active catalyst particles supported on the metal oxide particles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An active material layer for a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising:
metal oxide support particles; a non-ionomer proton conductor; and active catalyst particles supported on the metal oxide support particles.

2 . The active material layer of claim 1 , wherein the non-ionomer proton conductor is hydrous ruthenium dioxide.

3 . The active material layer of claim 2 , wherein the hydrous ruthenium dioxide is supported on the metal oxide particles.

4 . The active material layer of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide support particles are titanium dioxide.

5 . The active material layer of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide support particles are Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 .

6 . The active material layer of claim 1 , wherein the non-ionomer proton conductor is sulfonic acid functionalized silica.

7 . The active material layer of claim 6 , wherein the metal oxide support particles are titanium dioxide and the active material layer further comprises a carbon material as an electron-conducting material.

8 . The active material layer of claim 7 , wherein the carbon material is graphite, graphene, surface modified graphite or combinations thereof.

9 . The active material layer of claim 6 , wherein the metal oxide particles are Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 .

10 . The active material layer of claim 1 , wherein the active catalyst particles are platinum.

11 . A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a membrane; a gas diffusion layer; and an active material layer between the membrane and the gas diffusion layer, the active material layer comprising:
non-carbon support particles comprising one or both of titanium dioxide and Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 ;
active catalyst particles supported on the non-carbon support particles; and
a non-ionomer proton conductor.

12 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 11 , wherein the non-carbon support particles are Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 and the non-ionomer proton conductor is hydrous ruthenium dioxide.

13 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hydrous ruthenium dioxide is supported on the non-carbon support particles.

14 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 11 , wherein the non-carbon support particles are titanium dioxide and the non-ionomer proton conductor is hydrous ruthenium dioxide.

15 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 14 , wherein the hydrous ruthenium dioxide is supported on the non-carbon support particles.

16 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 11 , wherein the non-carbon support particles are Magnéli phase Ti 4 O 7 and the non-ionomer proton conductor is sulfonic acid functionalized silica.

17 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 11 , wherein the non-carbon support particles are titanium dioxide and the non-ionomer proton conductor is sulfonic acid functionalized silica, the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly further comprising a carbon material as an electron-conducting material.

18 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 17 , wherein the carbon material is graphite, graphene, surface modified graphite or combinations thereof.

19 . The fuel cell membrane electrode assembly of claim 11 , wherein the active catalyst particles are platinum.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Kumar Amod
• Dale Nilesh

Classifications

• H01M4/9075

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

• H01M8/1004

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/8663 Primary

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

• H01M4/8673

  Electrically conductive fillers · CPC title

• H01M4/925

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