MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH COMPRESSION CONTROL GASKET

摘要

A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising the steps of: i) selecting a fluid transport layer sheet material; ii) selecting a target level of compression Ct% for use of said fluid transport layer sheet material in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; iii) measuring the pressure Pt for which the fluid transport layer sheet material achieves compression of Ct%; iv) positioning between the platens of a press a membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) an anode catalyst material; c) a cathode catalyst material; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected flu id transport layer sheet material; and e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; v) depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane; vi) compressing the membrane electrode assembly to a pressing pressure Pp which is between 90% and 110% of Pt; and vii) substantially fixing the gasket material so as to form a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly. An MEA is provided comprising the layers listed above wherein the average thickness of each gasket Tg under its conta ct face is between 110% and 90% of {Tf x (100%-Ct%, where Tf is the average thickness of the respective same-side fluid transport layer.