Fuel cell anode design for mitigated start-up/shut-down corrosion resistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025323302-A1
Application number	US-202418631957-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2024
Priority date	Apr 10, 2024
Publication date	Oct 16, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode disposed on one end and an anode disposed on an opposite end from the cathode. The membrane electrode assembly also includes a proton exchange membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode. Additionally, the anode further includes at least one catalyst layer including a catalyst active material, carbon support material, at least one ionomer, and polymelamine formaldehyde polymer as an additive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a cathode disposed on one end and including a positively charged porous electrode by which electrons enter the membrane electrode assembly and within which oxygen reduction reaction occurs; an anode disposed on an opposite end from the cathode and including a negatively charged porous electrode within which a hydrogen oxidation reaction takes place to generate protons and electrons, and by which the electrons leave the membrane electrode assembly; and a proton exchange membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode,
wherein the anode further includes at least one catalyst layer including:
a catalyst active material; carbon support including one or more of carbon black, one-dimensional forms of carbon, or allotropes of carbon; at least one ionomer having repeating units of electrically neutral and ionized groups bonded to a polymer backbone; and polymelamine formaldehyde.

2 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon is about 0.05 to about 0.2 in the anode catalyst layer.

3 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon is about 0.05 to about 0.15 in the anode catalyst layer.

4 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon is about 0.1 in the anode catalyst layer.

5 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anode includes melamine or urea formaldehyde instead of polymelamine formaldehyde within the anode catalyst layer.

6 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst active material is one of Platinum or Palladium.

7 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer is perfluorosulfonic acid.

8 . A fuel cell incorporating the membrane electrode assembly of claim 1 .

9 . A vehicle incorporating the fuel cell of claim 8 .

10 . A membrane electrode assembly comprising:
a cathode disposed on one end; an anode disposed on an opposite end from the cathode and having at least one catalyst layer including:
a catalyst active material,
carbon support,
at least one ionomer, and
one of polymelamine formaldehyde or melamine; and
a proton exchange membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode.

11 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 10 , wherein the catalyst layer is homogeneously dispersed.

12 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 10 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon is about 0.05 to about 0.2 in the anode catalyst layer.

13 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 10 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon is about 0.1 in the anode catalyst layer.

14 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 10 , wherein the anode catalyst active material is one of Platinum or Palladium.

15 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ionomer is perfluorosulfonic acid.

16 . A membrane electrode assembly comprising:
an anode electrode including a substrate and an anode catalyst ink disposed on the substrate to form the anode catalyst layer, wherein the catalyst ink includes:
platinum on carbon catalyst;
perfluoro sulfonic acid ionomer; and
polymelamine formaldehyde additive.

17 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 16 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon in the anode catalyst layer is about 0.05 to about 0.2.

18 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 16 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon in the anode catalyst layer is about 0.05 to about 0 . 15 .

19 . The membrane electrode assembly of claim 16 , wherein a weight ratio of polymelamine formaldehyde to carbon in anode catalyst layer is about 0.1.

20 . A fuel cell incorporating the membrane electrode assembly of claim 16 .

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Ramaswamy Nagappan
• Kumaraguru Swaminatha P

Classifications

• H01M4/8663

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

• H01M8/1004 Primary

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

• H01M4/921

  Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements · CPC title

• H01M4/8828

  Coating with slurry or ink · CPC title

• H01M2004/8684

  Negative electrodes · CPC title