Composite proton conducting electrolyte with improved additives for fuel cells

摘要

Additives can be used to prepare polymer electrolyte for membrane electrode assemblies in polymer electrolyte fuel cells in order to improve both durability and performance. The additives are chemical complexes comprising certain metal and organic ligand components.

主权项

1. A membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising
an anode catalyst layer, a membrane electrolyte, a cathode catalyst layer, and a proton conducting composite polymer electrolyte comprising a proton conducting ionomer and an amount of a metal-ligand complex additive wherein: the metal in the complex is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, metal salts and combinations thereof; and the ligand in the complex comprises a molecule or polymer thereof wherein the chemical structure of the molecule is selected from the group consisting of:wherein R1, R3 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of H, CH3(CH2)n, CH3(CH2)nO, CF3(CF2)n, CF3(CF2)nO, COOH, PO(OH)2, SO3H, NH2, OH, andwherein X is H, COOH, PO(OH)2 or SO3H and n is an integer from0 to 10; and wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of CH3(CH2)n, CH3(CH2)nO, CF3(CF2)n, CF3(CF2)nO, COOH, PO(OH)2, SO3H, NH2, OH, andwherein X is H, COOH, PO(OH)2 or SO3H and n is an integer from 0 to 10.