Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

Bradley M Houghtaling

Scott C Moose

Mridula Nair

John P Healy

Timothy J Fuller

Tamara K Jones

Joseph Salvatore Sedita

Jeffrey A Trest

Seshadri Jagannathan

Charles Leo Bauer

Ramesh Jagannathan

Rajesh Vinodrai Mehta

YuanQiao Rao

Craig S Gittleman

Robert J Kress

Scott Lawrence Peters

Kelly Stephen Robinson

Ruichun Jiang

Matthew Dioguardi

Jeanette E Owejan

Thomas A Greszler

Paul D Nicotera

Robert R Quiel

Gary A Rakes

Karen L Pond

Disclosed are fuel cell systems, reinforced membrane electrode assemblies, and methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly. In an example, a disclosed method includes depositing an electrode ink onto a first substrate to form a first electrode layer, and applying a first porous reinforcement layer onto a surface of the first electrode layer to form a first catalyst coated substrate. The method also includes depositing a first ionomer solution onto the first catalyst coated substrate to form a first ionomer layer. A membrane porous reinforcement layer is applied onto a surface of the first ionomer layer to form a reinforced membrane layer.

Reinforced electrode assembly

A fuel cell, a reinforced membrane electrode assembly and a method of fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly. The method comprises depositing an electrode ink onto a first substrate to form a first electrode layer, applying a first porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the first electrode layer to form a first catalyst coated substrate, depositing a first ionomer solution onto the first catalyst coated substrate to form a first ionomer layer, and applying a membrane porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the first ionomer layer to form a reinforced membrane layer.

Disclosed are methods for simultaneous application of multiple fuel cell component coatings onto a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate, and simultaneously coating two or more solutions onto the substrate under laminar flow.

Simultaneous coating of fuel cell components

Methods of making a substantially crack-free electrode layer are described. The methods include depositing an electrode ink on a substrate; placing a layer of porous reinforcement layer on a surface of the wet electrode ink; and drying the electrode ink to form the substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate. Substantially crack-free electrode layers and fuel cells incorporating substantially crack-free electrode layers are also described.

Wet lamination process for reducing mud cracking in fuel cell components

Disclosed are methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly having one or more freestanding external reinforcement layers. The method comprises providing a freestanding external reinforcement layer, and depositing a catalyst solution and membrane solution onto at least a portion of the freestanding external reinforcement layer.

Direct coated membrane electrode assembly on external reinforcement for fuel cells

A substantially crack-free electrode layer is described. The substantially crack-free electrode layer includes a substrate; and a substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a catalyst, an ionomer, and a layered silicate reinforcement. Methods of making the electrode layer, electrode ink compositions, and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the electrode layer are also described.

Process and materials for manufacturing an electrode with reduced mud cracking

Methods for manufacturing laminated membranes for MEAs, such methods comprising (i) providing a substrate, a catalyst ink fluid, and a first membrane fluid; (ii) providing a second membrane fluid; (iii) simultaneously coating the catalyst ink fluid onto the substrate, the first membrane fluid onto the catalyst ink fluid, and the second membrane fluid onto the first membrane fluid; and (iv) applying a reinforcement layer (such as ePTFE) and allowing for full imbibement. The second membrane fluid (i) consists of alcohol or (ii) is an alcohol-rich fluid comprising polymer electrolyte.

Manufacturability of ePTFE laminated membranes

Methods of making a substantially crack-free electrode layer are described. The methods include depositing an electrode ink on a substrate; placing a solid polymer film on a surface of the wet electrode ink; drying the electrode ink; and removing the solid polymer film from the surface of the dry electrode ink to form the substantially crack-free electrode layer on the substrate.

An ink composition for forming a fuel cell electrode, and in particular, a fuel cell cathode layer is provided. The ink composition includes a first protogenic group-containing ionomer having an equivalent weight less than 800, an optional second protogenic group-containing ionomer having an equivalent weight greater than 800, and a catalyst composition. Electrode layers formed from the ink composition are also provided.

Electrode with reduced mud cracking via mixed equivalent weight ionomers

Disclosed is an optical film that comprises certain radiation cured (meth)acrylate binders and, desirably, irregular semicrystalline asymmetric particles.

Optical film for display devices

A process for the deposition of particulate material of a desired substance on a surface includes: (i) charging a particle formation vessel with a compressed fluid; (ii) introducing into the particle formation vessel a first feed stream comprising a solvent and the desired substance dissolved therein and a second feed stream comprising the compressed fluid, wherein the desired substance is less soluble in the compressed fluid relative to its solubility in the solvent and the solvent is soluble in the compressed fluid, and wherein the first feed stream is dispersed in the compressed fluid, allowing extraction of the solvent into the compressed fluid and precipitation of particles of the desired substance; (iii) exhausting compressed fluid, solvent and the desired substance from the particle formation vessel at a rate substantially equal to the rate of addition of such components to the vessel in step (ii) through a restrictive passage to a lower pressure whereby the compressed fluid is transformed to a gaseous state and a flow of particles of the desired substance is formed; and (iv) exposing a receiver surface to the exhausted flow of particles of the desired substance and depositing a uniform layer of particles on the receiver surface.

Process for the deposition of uniform layer of particulate material

Disclosed is an optical film comprising a layer containing layered clay particles in a radiation cured binder. Also disclosed is a coating dispersion and a method of forming an optical film comprising coating the dispersion on a flexible transparent polymeric support and an LCD or touch screen display incorporating the film.

Disclosed is an optical compensator for a liquid crystal display having improved optical properties, comprising a transparent polymeric support bearing an orientation layer and a photochemically cured optically anisotropic layer, in that order, wherein a photochemically cured barrier layer is present between the orientation layer and the support, and wherein the barrier layer, as disposed on the support, exhibits an indentation modulus of less than 2 GPa. The invention further provides a compensator comprising a transparent polymeric support, an orientation layer, and a photochemically cured optically anisotropic layer, in that order, wherein a photochemically cured barrier layer is present between the orientation layer and the support, and wherein there is present a compliant layer softer than the barrier layer adjacent to the support side of the barrier layer, and further comprises a compensator containing two or more compensator layers, with or without an adjacent compliant layer and a process for making the foregoing.

Compensator with photochemically cured barrier layer and process

Disclosed is an optical compensator for a liquid crystal display comprising a transparent polymeric support, an orientation layer, and an optically anisotropic layer, in order, and located between the support and the orientation layer, a barrier layer comprising a crosslinked polymer impermeable to the components of the support. Embodiments exhibit improved optical properties.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Bradley M Houghtaling