Ionic layer with oxygen evolution reaction catalyst for electrode protection

摘要

A fuel cell includes a first electrode and a second electrode with an ion conducting polymer membrane positioned between these electrodes. The fuel cell further comprises a first OER catalyst-containing ionic layer positioned between the first electrode and the ion conducting polymer membrane. The first OER catalyst-containing layer includes an OER catalyst-containing compound, an ion conducting polymer and carbon. Characteristically, the weight ratio of ion conducting polymer to carbon is from about 10 to about 100. A method for forming the fuel cell is also provided.

主权项

1. A fuel cell comprising:
a first bipolar plate having one or more channels for introducing a first gas to the fuel cell; a second bipolar plate having one or more channels for introducing a second gas to the fuel cell; a first gas diffusion layer adjacent to the first bipolar plate; a second gas diffusion layer adjacent to the second bipolar plate; an anode layer adjacent to the first gas diffusion layer, the anode layer including a first catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, platinum-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof; a cathode layer adjacent to the second gas diffusion layer, the cathode layer including a second catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, platinum-containing compounds, and mixtures thereof; an ion conducting polymer membrane positioned between anode layer and the cathode layer; and a first oxygen evolution catalyst-containing layer positioned between the anode layer and the ion conducting polymer membrane, the first oxygen evolution catalyst-containing layer comprising a first oxygen evolution catalyst, a first ion conducting polymer and carbon, wherein a weight ratio of the first ion conducting polymer to carbon is from about 10:1 to about 100:1, the first oxygen evolution catalyst-containing layer being substantially free of precious metal compounds other than iridium and including an iridium-containing compound; and a second oxygen evolution catalyst-containing layer, optionally including iridium or iridium containing compounds, positioned between the ion conducting polymer membrane and the cathode layer, the second oxygen evolution catalyst-containing layer being substantially free of precious metals other than iridium and comprising a second oxygen evolution catalyst, a second ion conducting polymer and carbon.