Membrane structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9692071-B2
Application number	US-201113814138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2011
Priority date	Aug 3, 2010
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A membrane, suitable for use in a fuel cell comprises:
(a) a central region comprising an ion-conducting polymeric material; (b) a border region which creates a frame around the central region and which consists of one or more non-ion-conducting materials wherein at least one of the one or more non-ion-conducting materials forms a layer;

wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region by 0 to 10 mm in an overlap region.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A membrane, suitable for use in a fuel cell, wherein the membrane comprises:
(a) a central region comprising an ion-conducting polymeric material; and
(b) a border region which creates a frame around the central region and which consists of one or more non-ion-conducting material wherein at least one of the one or more non-ion-conducting materials forms a layer,
wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region by 0 to 10 mm in an overlap region, and
wherein a single reinforcement extends throughout both the central and border regions of the membrane.

2. A membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region on one face only.

3. A membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region on both faces.

4. A catalyst-coated membrane comprising a membrane according to claim 1 and an electrocatalyst layer provided on one or both faces of the central region of the membrane.

5. A catalyst-coated membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the electrocatalyst layer extends into the overlap region by up to 10 mm.

6. A membrane electrode assembly comprising a catalyst-coated membrane according to claim 4 .

7. A fuel cell comprising a catalyst-coated membrane according to claim 4 .

8. A membrane electrode assembly comprising a membrane according to claim 1 .

9. A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly according to claim 8 .

10. A fuel cell comprising a membrane according to claim 1 .

11. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ion-conducting material of the border region overlaps the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region by 0 mm such that there is no overlap region.

12. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the ion-conducting polymeric material of the central region is a proton conducting polymer selected from the group consisting of perfluoroshulphonic acid ionomers, ionomers made from hydrocarbon polymers and phosphoric acid impregnated polybenzimidazole.

13. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the single reinforcement is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, PEEK, polyethylene and polyimide.

14. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the border region is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, thermoset polymers, cross-linked polymers, rubber, elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers.

15. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the border region is formed from three of more layers of non-ionic conducting material including an adhesive layer.

16. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the border region includes a gasket on one or both planar surfaces of the border region.

17. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the single reinforcement comprises a woven layer.

18. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the single reinforcement comprises a non-woven layer.

19. The membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the single reinforcement comprises a microporous layer.

Assignees

• Barnwell David Edward
• Trew Peter Antony
• Ralph Thomas Robertson
• Coleman Robert Jeffrey
• Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd

Inventors

• Barnwell David Edward
• Trew Peter Antony
• Ralph Thomas Robertson
• Coleman Robert Jeffrey

Classifications

• H01M8/0273 Primary

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title

• H01M4/881

  Electrolytic membranes · CPC title

• H01M8/1004

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

• H01M8/1018 Primary

  Polymeric electrolyte materials · CPC title

• H01M8/0284

  Organic resins; Organic polymers · CPC title