IP Library Granted Patent US 9,461,312
Granted Patent B2
US 9,461,312 · App. 14/237,102 · Granted Oct 4, 2016

Electrode for fuel cell, manufacturing method of electrode for fuel cell, polymer electrolyte fuel cell and catalyst ink

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,461,312
App. No.
14/237,102
Granted
Oct 4, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrode ( 31 c ) for fuel cell comprises: a catalyst carrier ( 110 ) that is an electrically-conductive carrier ( 130 ) with a catalyst ( 120 ) supported thereon; a first electrolyte resin ( 141 ); and a second electrolyte resin ( 142 ). The first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%. The second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%.

Claims (38)

1. An electrode for fuel cell, comprising:

a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier with a catalyst supported thereon;

a first electrolyte resin; and

a second electrolyte resin, wherein

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and

the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%,

a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin is not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and the second electrolyte resin.

2. A manufacturing method of an electrode for fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

preparing a first catalyst ink by dispersing a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier having at least a catalyst supported thereon and a first electrolyte resin in a solvent;

preparing a second catalyst ink by additionally dispersing a second electrolyte resin in the first catalyst ink; and

applying the second catalyst ink on an electrode substrate and evaporating at least part of the solvent included in the second catalyst ink, wherein

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and

the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%,

the step of preparing the first catalyst ink or the step of preparing the second catalyst ink controls a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin to be not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and the second electrolyte resin.

3. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising the electrode for fuel cell according to claim 1 .

4. A catalyst ink, comprising a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier with a catalyst supported thereon, a first electrolyte resin, a second electrolyte resin and a solvent, wherein

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and

the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%,

a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin is not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and the second electrolyte resin.

5. An electrode for fuel cell, comprising:

a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier with a catalyst supported thereon;

a first electrolyte resin; and

a second electrolyte resin, wherein

the first electrolyte resin partially coats the catalyst carrier, and

the second electrolyte resin coats a portion of the catalyst carrier that is not coated with the first electrolyte resin, and the first electrolyte resin,

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin is not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and second electrolyte resin.

6. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising the electrode for fuel cell according to claim 5 .

7. A manufacturing method of an electrode for fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

preparing a first catalyst ink by dispersing a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier having at least a catalyst supported thereon and a first electrolyte resin in a solvent;

preparing a second catalyst ink by additionally dispersing a second electrolyte resin in the first catalyst ink; and

applying the second catalyst ink on an electrode substrate and evaporating at least part of the solvent included in the second catalyst ink, wherein

the first electrolyte resin partially coats the catalyst carrier, and

the second electrolyte resin coats a portion of the catalyst carrier that is not coated with the first electrolyte resin, and the first electrolyte resin,

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of les than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin is not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and second electrolyte resin.

8. A catalyst ink, comprising a catalyst carrier that is an electrically-conductive carrier with a catalyst supported thereon, a first electrolyte resin, a second electrolyte resin and a solvent, wherein

the first electrolyte resin partially coats the catalyst carrier, and

the second electrolyte resin coats a portion of the catalyst carrier that is not coated with the first electrolyte resin, and the first electrolyte resin,

the first electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in an environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, and the second electrolyte resin has oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2×10 −14 mol/(m s Pa) in the environment having temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%, a mass fraction of the first electrolyte resin is not less than 2% and not greater than 50% relative to a total mass of the first electrolyte resin and second electrolyte resin.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2018
From: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045846/0011 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2014
From: AIMU, MASANORI; PERRY, RANDAL LEWIS; ROELOFS, MARK GERRIT; WHELAND, ROBERT CLAYTON; ATEN, RALPH MUNSON
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Reel/Frame 032138/0508 →