Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc

University of Connecticut

Ruichun Jiang

Craig S Gittleman

Timothy J Fuller

Frank D Coms

Matthew Dioguardi

Nazim Z Muradov

Zhiqiang Yu

Sean M MacKinnon

Annette Brenner

Scott C Moose

Bradley M Houghtaling

Junliang Zhang

Leonard J Bonville

John P Healy

Cunping Huang

H Russell Kunz

James M Fenton

Kathryn L Stevick

Jackie Mara

Mohamed Elbaccouch

Burl B Keel

Michael Sweet

Michael T Flanagan

Rachid Zaffou

Presented are systems for manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells, control logic for operating such systems, methods for making such MEAs, and fuel cell systems employing such MEAs. A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell system includes receiving a standalone membrane (SAM) with a semipermeable proton-exchange membrane having opposing first and second faces and a backing layer attached to the first face. A SAM may be characterized by a lack of cathode and anode electrodes upon receipt of the membrane. The second face of the SAM is placed across a vacuum plate; the vacuum plate applies a predefined vacuum pressure to the SAM. While vacuum pressure is being applied to the SAM by the vacuum plate, the backing layer is removed from the SAM. A subgasket is then attached to the first face of the SAM after the backing layer is removed.

Systems and methods for fabricating membrane electrode assemblies with standalone membranes using vacuum plates

A membrane electrode assembly component for a fuel cell includes a generally planar gas-permeable body having opposed first and second faces defining in-plane and through-plane directions, a side face extending about an outer perimeter of the body and adjoining each of the first and second faces, and an active region bounded by the first and second faces and an active region perimeter defined generally within the outer perimeter. The active region includes a distribution of cerium-zirconium oxide nanofibers dispersed across at least one of the in-plane and through-plane directions, wherein the cerium-zirconium oxide nanofibers have a molecular formula of CeZrO.

Cerium nanofiber additives for improved fuel cell durability

A fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane having a first major side and a second major side. The membrane electrode assembly includes a first anisotropic reinforced layer having a first plurality of fiber preferentially oriented along a first direction, a second anisotropic reinforced layer having a second plurality of fiber preferentially oriented along a second direction, and a polymeric layer including a plurality of sulfonic acid groups. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over the first major side of the proton exchange membrane while an anode catalyst layer is disposed over the second major side of the proton exchange membrane. An anode flow field plate is disposed over the anode catalyst layer and a cathode flow field plate is disposed over the cathode catalyst layer.

Fuel cell durability by orthogonally oriented anisotropic external reinforce layers

A method for forming a modified solid polymer includes a step of contacting a solid fluorinated polymer with a sodium sodium-naphthalenide solution to form a treated fluorinated solid polymer. The treated fluorinated solid polymer is contacted with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or sulfur trioxide to form a solid grafted fluorinated polymer. Characteristically, the grafted fluorinated polymer includes appended COH or SOH or SOH groups. The solid grafted fluorinated polymer is advantageously incorporated into a fuel cell as part of the ion-conducting membrane or a water transport membrane in a humidifier.

Grafted functional groups on expanded tetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) support for fuel cell and water transport membranes

An electrochemical water gas shift system for removing low level carbon monoxide from hydrogen stream. The system including an electrolyzer having a porous anode for absorbing carbon monoxide from a hydrogen stream as a feed stream for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for generating an electrical energy, a small portion of electricity generated by the fuel cell is applied to the electrolyzer to convert carbon monoxide adsorbed in the porous anode to carbon dioxide and hydrogen via an electrochemical gas shift reaction without oxygen or air input. In an embodiment, the system includes a first electrolyzer operating as a CO adsorber and a second electrolyzer connected in parallel with the first electrolyzer operating as a CO remover. Two electrolyzers can be operated alternatively as CO adsorber and CO remover.

Electrochemical method for the removal of PPM levels of carbon monoxide from hydrogen for a fuel cell

Disclosed are methods for fabricating a reinforced membrane electrode assembly having one or more freestanding external reinforcement layers. The method comprises providing a freestanding external reinforcement layer, and depositing a catalyst solution and membrane solution onto at least a portion of the freestanding external reinforcement layer.

Direct coated membrane electrode assembly on external reinforcement for fuel cells

A fuel cell membrane and a method of making the same. The membrane includes at least one non-reinforced layer and at least one reinforced layer. Both layers include a proton-conductive ionomer, while the reinforced layer additionally includes nanofiber-supported catalyst that improve mechanical and chemical durability of the membrane. The nanofiber-supported catalyst is made up of structural fibers onto which an electrocatalyst is coated, deposited or otherwise formed. The structural nanofibers give increased strength and stiffness to the layers that include them, while the electrocatalyst helps to resist electrochemical degradation to the membranes that include them. Such a membrane may form the basis of a fuel cell's membrane electrode assembly.

Nanofiber supported catalysts as membrane additives for improved fuel cell durability

A fuel cell includes an ion conducting membrane having a first side and a second side. Characteristically, the ion conducting membrane has a sufficient amount of a stabilization agent and platinum to inhibit the loss of fluoride from the ion conducting membrane when compared to an ion conducting membrane having the same construction except for the presence of cerium ions.

Chemical durability using synergystic mitigation strategies

A fuel cell or a fuel cell stack component comprises an active area and a non-active area. A peroxide decomposing metal compound or metal alloy is disposed in or on the non-active area of a fuel cell or a fuel cell component. The metal compound or alloy is capable of providing a peroxide decomposing metal species that can migrate from the non-active area to an active area of a fuel cell. A fuel cell or membrane electrode assembly having a peroxide decomposing metal compound or alloy disposed in its non-active area exhibits improved durability.

Fuel cells having improved durability

Methods of making reinforced membrane electrode assemblies are described. Catalyst coated free standing microporous layers and reinforced membrane electrode assemblies are also described.

Direct catalyst coating on free standing microporous layer

The present disclosure provides for a bipolar plate assembly for use in a fuel cell stack. The bipolar plate assembly includes: (a) at least one flow field layer defining a flow field portion and a perimeter portion; (b) at least one core assembly including at least one porous carbon layer and at least one impermeable layer; and (c) a cathode side reactant and an anode side reactant. The at least a first flow field layer is made from a porous carbon material and the perimeter portion is impregnated with a polymer material. The porous carbon layer is joined to: (i) the at least one impermeable layer on a first side by an adhesive material; and (ii) the flow field layer perimeter on a second side by a second adhesive material. The at least a first flow field layer defines reactant inlet and outlet ports and reactant flow passageways for each of the cathode side reactant and the anode side reactant. A method of making such a bipolar plate as described herein is also provided, as well as a method for rendering a layer of carbon material substantially impervious to a liquid agent such as an acid and rendering the porous carbon components wettable to retain an acidic liquid electrolyte. Fuel cell bipolar plates made in accordance with the teachings herein exhibit excellent heat transfer characteristics, and are particularly effective in conducting heat to the edge of a fuel cell stack.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Ruichun Jiang