FUEL CELL ELECTRODE WITH GRADIENT CATALYST STRUCTURE

摘要

An example of a stable electrode structure is to use a gradient electrode that employs large platinum particle catalyst in the close proximity to the membrane supported on conventional carbon and small platinum particles in the section of the electrode closer to a GDL supported on a stabilized carbon. Some electrode parameters that contribute to electrode performance stability and reduced change in ECA are platinum-to-carbon ratio, size of platinum particles in various parts of the electrode, use of other stable catalysts instead of large particle size platinum (alloy, etc), depth of each gradient sublayer. Another example of a stable electrode structure is to use a mixture of platinum particle sizes on a carbon support, such as using platinum particles that may be 6 nanometers and 3 nanometers. A conductive support is typically one or more of the carbon blacks.

主权项

1. A fuel cell electrode assembly comprising:
a first layer including a first support material having first catalyst particles of a first average particle size adjoining a proton exchange membrane; a second layer adjoining the first layer and including a second support material having second catalyst particles of a second average particle size adjoining a gas diffusion layer, the first average particle size larger than the second average particle size.