Method of forming robust metal, metal oxide, and metal alloy layers on ion-conductive polymer membranes

摘要

An ion beam-assisted deposition process for preparing a membrane-electrode structure is described wherein a layer of liquid ionomer is applied to the surface of a carbon cloth gas diffusion electrode structure. The coated structure is heated to form an ionomer film on the cloth electrode and the resulting structure is treated with a metal or metal oxide ion-beam having an energy between 500-2000 eV. The process forms a carbon cloth supported metal or a carbon metal oxide ionomer film membrane-electrode structure.