3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines

Gregory M Haugen

Steven Joseph Hamrock

Matthew H Frey

Phat Tan Pham

Mark Kevitt Debe

Andrew T Haug

William M Lamanna

James Michael Larson

Krzysztof A Lewinski

John H Thomas, Iii

Andrew J L Steinbach

George D Vernstrom

Radoslav Atanasoski

Andrew J Steinbach

Raymond J Ziegler

Mark Albert Schonewill

Michael Andrew Yandrasits

Shane Shanhong Mao

Andrew Michael Herring

Susan M Hendricks

Dennis F Van Der Vliet

Jimmy L Wong

James L Horan

Niccolo V Aieta

Andrew M Armstrong

Ljiljana L Atanasoska

Phat T Pham

Membrane electrode assembly comprising oxygen evolution reaction catalyst disposed in gas distribution layer () or between gas distribution layer (and gas dispersion layer (). Membrane electrode assemblies described herein are useful, for example, in electrochemical devices such as a fuel cell.

Membrane electrode assembly

A fuel cell electrode layer may include a catalyst, an electronic conductor, and an ionic conductor. Within the electrode layer are a plurality of electronic conductor rich networks and a plurality of ionic conductor rich networks that are interspersed with the electronic conductor rich networks. A volume ratio of the ionic conductor to the electronic conductor is greater in the ionic conductor rich networks than in the electronic conductor rich networks. During operation of a fuel cell that includes the electrode layer, conduction of electrons occurs predominantly within the electronic conductor rich networks and conduction of ions occurs predominantly within the ionic conductor rich networks.

Fuel cell electrodes with conduction networks

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEA's) are provided which have nanostructured thin film (NSTF) catalyst electrodes and additionally a sublayer of dispersed catalyst situated between the NSTF catalyst and the PEM of the MEA.

Fuel cell electrode with nanostructured catalyst and dispersed catalyst sublayer

Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising bound anionic functional groups and polyvalent cations, such as Mn or Ru cations, which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are also provided.

Casting solution and method for making a polymer electrolyte membrane

The present invention is an electrolyte membrane comprising an acid and a basic polymer, where the acid is a low-volatile acid that is fluorinated and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric, and where the basic polymer is protonated by the acid and is stable to hydrolysis.

Fuel cell electrolyte membrane with basic polymer

This disclosure provides polymer electrolytes, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM's) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA's) such as may be useful in fuel cells which contain or comprise polyoxometalates (POM's) or heteropolyacids (HPA's). In some embodiments the polyoxometalate, it's counterions or both may comprise Mn and/or Ce. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte is fluorinated. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte comprises a second acidic functional group other than a polyoxometalate. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of making polymer electrolytes including methods which comprising a step of copolymerizing monomers comprising a covalently bound polyoxometalates and methods which comprise a step of covalently attaching a polyoxometalate to the polymer.

Polymer electrolytes including heteropolyacids

Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising manganese oxides which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are provided.

Durable fuel cell having polymer electrolyte membrane comprising manganese oxide

Method of making a fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane comprising manganese oxide

Fuel cell membrane electrode assembly

An electrolyte membrane is formed by an acidic polymer and a low-volatility acid that is fluorinated, substantially free of basic groups, and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric.

Fuel cell electrolyte membrane with acidic polymer

A fuel cell cathode catalyst is provided which comprises nanostructured elements comprising microstructured support whiskers bearing nanoscopic catalyst particles. The nanoscopic catalyst particles are made by the alternating application of first and second layers, the first layer comprising platinum and the second layer being an alloy or intimate mixture of iron and a second metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIb metals, Group VIIb metals and Group VIIIb metals other than platinum and iron, where the atomic ratio of iron to the second metal in the second layer is between 0 and 10, where the planar equivalent thickness ratio of the first layer to the second layer is between 0.3 and 5, and wherein the average bilayer planar equivalent thickness of the first and second layers is less than 100 &#x212b;.

Fuel cell cathode catalyst

The present invention provides fuel cell electrode catalysts comprising alternating platinum-containing layers and layers containing suboxides of a second metal, where the catalyst demonstrates an early onset of CO oxidation. Preferred second metals are selected from the group consisting of Group IIIb metals, Group IVb metals, Group Vb metals, Group VIb metals and Group VIIb metals, most preferably Ti, Ta, W and Mo. The present invention additionally provides methods of making such catalysts, preferably by alternate deposition of platinum and second metals in the presence of substoichiometric amounts of gaseous oxygen.

Suboxide fuel cell catalyst for enhanced reformate tolerance

Growing community of inventors

Edina, MN, United States of America

Gregory M Haugen