System and method for a fuel cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane photon conduction

1 . A system for a fuel-cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane proton conduction, the system comprising:

a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly, including:

an active area including:

a proton exchange membrane;

a first portion of a transitional proton-conductive material attached to the proton exchange membrane;

a non-active subgasket boundary surrounding the active area, configured for preventing a flow of gaseous material and liquid material therethrough, and including:

a non-conductive subgasket; and

a second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material attached to the subgasket.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket; and

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive; and

wherein a second side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the second non-conductive subgasket with the adhesive.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket;

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket;

wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive; and

wherein the second non-conductive subgasket is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with the adhesive.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket;

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket;

the transitional proton-conductive material is formed in one piece with the second non-conductive subgasket; and

wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material and the second non-conductive subgasket are attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transitional proton-conductive material is constructed with a polyimide film; and

wherein the transitional proton-conductive material includes micro holes filled with proton conductive ionomer.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transitional proton-conductive material is constructed with at least one of polyethylene naphthalate, polyphenylsulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene; and

wherein the transitional proton-conductive material includes micro holes filled with proton conductive ionomer.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the proton exchange membrane is attached to a first side of the transitional proton-conductive material;

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes a cathode electrode attached to the proton exchange membrane; and

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes an anode electrode attached to a second side of the transitional proton-conductive material.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes a cathode electrode attached to a first side of the transitional proton-conductive material;

wherein the proton exchange membrane is attached to a second side of the transitional proton-conductive material; and

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes an anode electrode attached to the proton exchange membrane.

10 . A device including a system for a fuel-cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane proton conduction, the device comprising:

the system including a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly, including:

an active area including:

a proton exchange membrane;

a first portion of a transitional proton-conductive material attached to the proton exchange membrane;

a non-active subgasket boundary surrounding the active area, configured for preventing a flow of gaseous material and liquid material therethrough, and including:

a non-conductive subgasket; and

a second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material attached to the non-conductive subgasket.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the device is a vehicle.

12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket;

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket;

wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive; and

wherein a second side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the second non-conductive subgasket with the adhesive.

13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket;

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket;

wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive; and

wherein the second non-conductive subgasket is attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with the adhesive.

14 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the non-conductive subgasket is a first non-conductive subgasket;

wherein the non-active subgasket boundary further includes a second non-conductive subgasket;

the transitional proton-conductive material is formed in one piece with the second non-conductive subgasket; and

wherein a first side of the second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material and the second non-conductive subgasket are attached to the first non-conductive subgasket with an adhesive.

15 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the transitional proton-conductive material is constructed with a polyimide film; and

wherein the transitional proton-conductive material includes micro holes filled with proton conductive ionomer.

16 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the transitional proton-conductive material is constructed with at least one of polyethylene naphthalate, polyphenylsulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene; and

wherein the transitional proton-conductive material includes micro holes filled with proton conductive ionomer.

17 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the proton exchange membrane is attached to a first side of the transitional proton-conductive material;

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes a cathode electrode attached to the proton exchange membrane; and

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes an anode electrode attached to a second side of the transitional proton-conductive material.

18 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes a cathode electrode attached to a first side of the transitional proton-conductive material;

wherein the proton exchange membrane is attached to a second side of the transitional proton-conductive material; and

wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly further includes an anode electrode attached to the proton exchange membrane.

19 . A method to create a fuel-cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane proton conduction, the method comprising:

attaching a first portion of a transitional proton-conductive material to an inner perimeter of a first picture frame-shaped subgasket and an inner perimeter of a second picture frame-shaped subgasket; and

attaching a second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material to an outer perimeter of a proton exchange membrane and an outer perimeter of a first electrode layer, wherein the proton exchange membrane is connected to a second electrode layer, wherein the first picture frame-shaped subgasket, the second picture frame-shaped subgasket, the transitional proton-conductive material, the proton exchange membrane, the first electrode, and the second electrode together define a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly is a first fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly; and

further comprising:

assembling the first fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly to a second fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly to form a fuel-cell stack; and

utilizing the fuel-cell stack to provide a useful flow of electrical energy.