Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

John A S Bett

Richard D Breault

Carl Anthony Reiser

Ned Emidio Cipollini

Foster Philip Lamm

Thomas D Jarvi

Christopher J Hertel

The invention is a fuel cell () having a corrosion resistant and protected cathode catalyst layer (). The cathode catalyst layer () includes a platinum oxygen reduction catalyst and an oxygen evolution catalyst selected from the group consisting of catalysts that are more active than platinum for oxygen evolution. The oxygen evolution catalyst may be uniformly applied within the cathode catalyst layer, or non-uniformly applied to identified high corrosion areas () () of the cathode catalyst layer (). The cathode catalyst layer () may include heat-treated carbon support material, and/or a heat-treated carbon black within a diffusion layer () supporting the cathode catalyst layer (). The fuel cell () may also include an anode catalyst layer () having a poor oxygen reduction catalyst having a greater oxygen reduction over potential than platinum.

Fuel cell having a corrosion resistant and protected cathode catalyst layer

The invention is a porous carbon body for a fuel cell having an electronically conductive hydrophilic agent and method of manufacture of the body. The porous carbon body comprises an electronically conductive graphite powder in an amount of between 60%-80% by weight of the body; a carbon fiber in an amount of between 5%-15% by weight of the body; a thermoset binder in an amount of between 6%-18% by weight of the body; and, a modified carbon black electronically conductive hydrophilic agent in an amount of between 2%-20% by weight of the body. The body provides for increased wettability without any decrease in electrical conductivity, and also provides for an efficient manufacture without any need for high temperature, costly steps to graphitize the body, or to incorporate post molding hydrophilic agents into pores of the body.

Porous carbon body for a fuel cell having an electronically conductive hydrophilic agent

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Hamden, CT, United States of America

John A S Bett