Volkswagen Ag

Audi Ag

Gerold Hübner

Lasse Schmidt

Thomas Schladt

Tanja Graf

Christian Lucas

Hannes Scholz

Sebastian Kirsch

Natalja Ermatschenko

Miriam Stiefel

Jonathan Edward Müller

Alexander Vollbrecht

Jonathan Edward MÜLLER

A layered structure for a fuel cell comprises a carbon-based catalyst-free gas diffusion layer substrate and a carbon-based microporous layer, which is joined to the gas diffusion layer substrate and comprises a plurality of carbon carriers or carbon fibers embedded into an ion-conducting polymer binder mixture. The polymer binder mixture comprises a sulfur-free binding polymer and a sulfonated polymer, and a fraction of the binding polymer at or near a surface of the microporous layer facing away from the gas diffusion layer substrate is less than or equal to a fraction of the sulfonated polymer. A method for producing a layered structure of this type is also provided.

Layered structure for a fuel cell and method for producing a layered structure of this type

A method for the production of an electrode for a fuel cell is provided that comprises providing a multitude of catalyst particles carried on at least one electrically conductive particle carrier, and depositing one or more atomic or molecular layers of an ionomer from the gas phase on the catalyst particles and/or the at least one particle carrier, thereby forming a proton-conducting ionomer coating. Furthermore, an electrode for a fuel cell is also provided.

Method for production of an electrode and the electrode for a fuel cell

A method for reducing cell degradation in a fuel cell system includes adding oxygen-containing gas to a fuel in the anode chamber to prevent an increase in a cell voltage above a predetermined maximum value.

Reduction of cell degradation in fuel cell systems

A method for producing a noble metal-free catalyst comprises providing a catalyst support comprising organic heterocycles as catalyst, and applying an oxidation-inhibiting protective layer. Embodiments further relate to a noble metal-free catalyst, a fuel cell, and a motor vehicle.

Method for producing a noble metal-free catalyst, a noble metal-free catalyst, a fuel cell and a motor vehicle

A diagnostic system for determining the cathode gas quality of a fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack, with a diagnostic fuel cell which can be connected at the cathode side to a cathode supply line and at the anode side to an anode supply line of the fuel cell system. The diagnostic system furthermore comprises a detection unit which is configured to detect a measured value or the measured value time curve of the diagnostic fuel cell operating with the cathode gas provided via the cathode supply line and with the anode gas provided via the anode supply line. The present disclosure moreover relates to a fuel cell system having a diagnostic system, and to a corresponding method.

Diagnostic system, fuel cell system having a diagnostic system, and method for determining cathode gas contamination

A fuel cell stack is provided comprising a plurality of fuel cells comprising a membrane electrode assembly and at least one gas diffusion layer, which fuel cells are divided into at least one first fuel cell segment having a portion of the plurality of fuel cells and a second fuel cell segment having a different portion of the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the first fuel cell segment and the second fuel cell segment are arranged in a common fuel cell cascade, wherein the first fuel cell segment comprises a first collector inlet line for an operating medium and a first collector outlet lined which is formed integrally with a second collector inlet line of the second fuel cell segment and wherein the second fuel cell segment comprises a second collector outlet line. The membrane electrode assemblies and/or the gas diffusion layers inside the second fuel cell segment are designed in such a way that they are more water-repellent than those of the first fuel cell segment. A fuel cell system comprising such a fuel cell stack is also provided.

Cascaded fuel cell stack and fuel cell system

In order to provide a membrane () for a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) of a fuel cell, comprising two partial membranes (), which allows for a simpler water circuit compared to the prior art, it is proposed that the partial membranes () have different ion exchange capacities (IECs) and/or one partial membrane () consists of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer (PFSA) and the other partial membrane () consists of a sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer (HC). Optionally, the membrane can contain a porous carrier film (). Moreover disclosed are a method for producing the membrane () as well as a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell.

Membrane, membrane-electrode assembly, fuel cell and method for producing a membrane

A membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell having such assembly. The membrane electrode assembly has a polymer electrolyte membrane, two catalytic electrodes in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane on both sides, namely an anode and a cathode, and two gas diffusion layers directly or indirectly adjoining the electrodes, namely an anode-side gas diffusion layer and a cathode-side gas diffusion layer. At least one of the gas diffusion layers may optionally feature a microporous layer facing the polymer electrolyte membrane. The sequence of layers is anode-side gas diffusion layer, anode-side microporous layer, anode, polymer electrolyte membrane, cathode, cathode-side microporous layer, cathode-side gas diffusion layer. A relative hydrophobicity of at least two of these components and/or a hydrophobicity gradient within at least one of these components, and a relative pore structure having pore size and/or porosity of at least two of these components and/or a gradient within the pore structure of at least one of these components, is designed in such a way that it promotes the transport of water via the polymer electrolyte membrane, preferably from the cathode side to the anode side.

Growing community of inventors

Braunschweig, Germany

Gerold Hübner