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:
Jan. 01, 2013
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2007
David Allen Wald, Lakeland, MN (US);
Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Hastings, MN (US);
David Allen Wald, Lakeland, MN (US);
Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Hastings, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising the steps of: i) selecting a fluid transport layer sheet material; ii) selecting a target level of compression Ct % for use of said fluid transport layer sheet material in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; iii) measuring the pressure Pt for which the fluid transport layer sheet material achieves compression of Ct %; iv) positioning between the platens of a press a membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) an anode catalyst material; c) a cathode catalyst material; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; and e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; v) depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane; vi) compressing the membrane electrode assembly to a pressing pressure Pp which is between 90% and 110% of Pt; and vii) substantially fixing the gasket material so as to form a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly. An MEA is provided comprising the layers listed above wherein the average thickness of each gasket Tg under its contact face is between 110% and 90% of {Tf×(100%−Ct %)}, where Tf is the average thickness of the respective same-side fluid transport layer.