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:
Aug. 20, 2013
Filed:
May. 25, 2005
Joachim Koehler, Gruendau/Haingruendau, DE;
Sandra Wittpahl, Herzogenaurach, DE;
Holger Dziallas, Grosskrotzenburg, DE;
Christian Eickes, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Joachim Koehler, Gruendau/Haingruendau, DE;
Sandra Wittpahl, Herzogenaurach, DE;
Holger Dziallas, Grosskrotzenburg, DE;
Christian Eickes, Frankfurt am Main, DE;
Umicore AG & Co. KG, Hanau-Wolfgang, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a membrane electrode unit (MEU) for electrochemical apparatuses, in particular for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The membrane electrode unit contains backings (i.e. gas diffusion layers) on the anode side and cathode side, which have a different water tightness (WT). The anode backing must have a lower water tightness (i.e. a higher water permeability) than the cathode backing, where WT<WT. The anode backing preferably has no compensating layer (microlayer), has a lower content of water repellent (from 2 to 10 wt.-%, based on the total weight) and has a higher total pore volume (VTot) than the cathode backing. The membrane electrode units produced have a substantially improved performance in DMFC fuel cells which are operated with aqueous methanol solution.