Ballard Power Systems Corporation

Daimler Ag

Regina Wezel

Kevin M Colbow

Jiujun Zhang

Peter Urban

Jens M&uuml;ller

David P Wilkinson

Joy A Roberts

Jean St-Pierre

Felix Blank

Cindy J Longley

Marian E Van Der Geest

Cosmas Heller

Verena Graf

Martin Quintus

A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell having a polymer electrolyte membrane, having a layer sequence comprising an ion-conducting membrane (), a catalyst layer () and a gas diffusion layer (). A substantially catalyst-free, porous condensation layer () is arranged between the catalyst layer () and the membrane ().

Membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell

Low temperature fuel cells, e.g. solid polymer fuel cells, can operate directly on a fuel comprising dimethyl ether with dimethyl ether being oxidized at the fuel cell anode. Being highly soluble in water, dimethyl ether can be supplied as a liquid aqueous fuel solution. As a fuel, dimethyl ether provides similar power characteristics as methanol but typically with a greater Faradaic efficiency in liquid feed solid polymer fuel cells.

Direct dimethyl ether fuel cells

An electrochemical fuel cell is operated with periodic reactant starvation at either or both electrodes. Periodic reactant starvation conditions cause a change in the potential of the starved electrode and may result in the removal of electrocatalyst poisons and in improved fuel cell performance. This technique may have other beneficial effects at the electrodes, including performance improvements due to water management effects or localized heating effects at the starved electrode. In a preferred method, while successive localized portions of a fuel cell electrode are periodically reactant starved, the remainder of the fuel cell electrode remains electrochemically active and saturated with reactant such that the fuel cell is able to continue to generate power.

Method and apparatus for operating an electrochemical fuel cell with periodic reactant starvation

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Ulm, Germany

Regina Wezel