Umicore Ag & Co Kg

Joachim Koehler

Dan V Goia

Karl-Anton Starz

Volker Bänisch

Marco Lopez

Ralf Zuber

Sandra Wittpahl

Holger Dziallas

Matthias Binder

Christian Eickes

Volker Baenisch

Markus Gelz

The invention relates to a membrane electrode unit (MEU) for electrochemical apparatuses, in particular for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The membrane electrode unit contains backings (i.e. gas diffusion layers) on the anode side and cathode side, which have a different water tightness (WT). The anode backing must have a lower water tightness (i.e. a higher water permeability) than the cathode backing, where WT&#x3c;WT. The anode backing preferably has no compensating layer (microlayer), has a lower content of water repellent (from 2 to 10 wt.-%, based on the total weight) and has a higher total pore volume (VTot) than the cathode backing. The membrane electrode units produced have a substantially improved performance in DMFC fuel cells which are operated with aqueous methanol solution.

Membrane-electrode unit for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)

Nanoparticles which contain noble metals alone or noble metals in combination with base metals. The nanoparticles are embedded in an aqueous solution of a temporary stabilizer based on a polysaccharide.

Noble metal nanoparticles, a process for preparing these and their use

The invention relates to a process for recycling fuel cell components containing fluorine-containing and precious metal-containing constituents: in this process, the fluorine-containing constituents are separated off from the precious metal-containing constituents by treatment with a medium present in the supercritical state. Preference is given to using water as supercritical medium. After the fluorine-containing constituents have been separated off, the precious metal-containing residues can be recovered in a recycling process without harmful fluorine or hydrogen fluoride emissions. The fluorine-containing constituents can likewise be recovered. The process is used in the recovery of precious metals and/or fluorine-containing constituents from membrane fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, sensors and other electrochemical devices.

Process for recycling fuel cell components containing precious metals

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Gruendau/Haingruendau, Germany

Joachim Koehler