The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1999
Chan Lim, Seongnam, KR;
Hyuk Chang, Seongnam, KR;
Abstract
A method for preparing a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell electrode and a method for fabricating the PEM fuel cell produced thereby are provided. The method for preparing a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell according to the present invention comprises the steps of (a) adding an MOH solution to a perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI) solution to convert PFSI in the PFSI solution into an M form-PFSI solution, wherein M is an alkaline metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na and K; (b) adding an organic polar solvent having a higher boiling point than that of alcohol remaining in the PFSI solution to a mixed solution obtained in step (a) and heating the mixture at a temperature range of the boiling point of the alcohol to 20° C. higher than the boiling point to remove the remaining alcohol to obtain a pretreated PFSI solution; and (c) mixing the pretreated PFSI solution with Pt/C to form a slurry for forming a catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell. Since processing stability is improved and the slurry can be easily prepared, Pt loading greater than a conventional level can be achieved by a single coating step by preventing a Pt catalyst from penetrating into a backing layer, the electrode characteristics are improved. Also, mass production of the PEM fuel cells is possible.