Nanoengineered membrane-electrode assembly for high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

摘要

A membrane electrode assembly for a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell includes a nano-engineered polymeric membrane between an anode and a cathode. The membrane is an electrical insulator, but permits that passage of protons through the membrane. The membrane has a plurality of blind pores therein, each blind pore having an electrically-conductive coating along its inner wall that is in electrical contact with the adjacent one of the anode or cathode. The electrically-conductive coating includes a catalyst, such as platinum, for promoting the liberation of a proton and an electron from a chemical molecule, such as hydrogen, and/or for promoting the combination of a proton, an electron and another molecule, such as oxygen, to form yet another molecule, such as water.

主权项

1. A polymeric membrane for facilitating electrochemical reactions with or without a catalyst layer adjacent to said membrane, comprising a first membrane surface, a second membrane surface opposite said first membrane surface, and a first plurality of first blind pores in said polymeric membrane, each first blind pore of said first plurality of first blind pores having a first open end adjacent said first membrane surface, a first closed end opposite said first open end, and a first internal side wall extending from said first open end to said first closed end, each first blind pore of said first plurality of first blind pores extending from said first membrane surface toward said second membrane surface, at least some first blind pores of said first plurality of first blind pores having a first electrically-conductive coating provided on said first internal side walls thereof, wherein each of said first internal side walls of said first plurality of first blind pores has a first internal side wall surface area, said first membrane surface has a first membrane surface area exclusive of said first internal side wall surface areas, and the sum of said first internal side wall surface areas is at least 100 times greater than said first membrane surface area.