Fuel cell, a fuel cell electrode, and a method for making a fuel cell electrode

摘要

A fuel cell electrode having a non-uniform catalyst loading is disclosed. The electrode has a layer of a hydrophobic polymer and a platinum or platinum alloy catalyst supported on the surface of a porous substrate. The thickness of the layer increases along one axis of the surface so that the electrode has a catalyst loading that increases along the one axis of the surface. A process for making such an electrode having steps of contacting the upper surface of a porous substrate with a mixture of a hydrophobic polymer and a carbon supported catalyst, and establishing a reduced pressure distribution along the lower surface of the porous substrate to cause the catalyst mixture to be deposited as a non-uniform layer on the upper surface of the substrate. A fuel cell utilizing such an electrode is also disclosed.