Improved cathode structures for direct liquid feed fuel cells

Details Improved cathode structures for direct liquid feed fuel cells Improved cathode structures for direct liquid feed fuel cells

H - Electricity

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H01M 4/00 (2006.01) H01M 4/86 (2006.01) H01M 4/88 (2006.01) H01M 4/92 (2006.01) H01M 4/96 (2006.01) H01M 8/04 (2006.01) H01M 8/10 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 2391501

Direct liquid feed solid polymer fuel cells are supplied with a liquid fuel stream typically comprising a mixture of fuel and a substantial amount of water (for example, liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells). The oxidant stream supplied however is typically a gaseous stream (for example, air) as is commonly supplied to gas feed solid polymer fuel cells. A greater amount of water typically diffuses from the anode side to the cathode side in liquid feed cells, thereby having an effect on water management at the cathode. A different cathode structure having a lesser amount of hydrophobic additive in the cathode substrate is preferred in liquid feed fuel cells. Further, a thinner cathode may be used without sacrificing fuel cell performance, by using a combination of a thinner carbonaceous support in the cathode substrate and a carbon-based sublayer between the cathode substrate and electrocatalyst layer.

L'invention concerne des cellules électrochimiques à polymère solide, à alimentation liquide directe par un flux de combustible liquide comprenant généralement un mélange de combustible et de quantité substantielle d'eau (par exemple, cellules électrochimiques à alimentation directe en méthanol liquide). Néanmoins, le flux oxydant fourni à la cellule électrochimique est généralement gazeux (par exemple, air) comme c'est habituellement le cas pour les cellules électrochimiques à polymère solide à alimentation gazeuse. S'agissant des cellules à alimentation liquide, une plus grande quantité d'eau se diffuse généralement depuis côté anode vers le côté cathode, ce qui affecte la gestion de l'eau à la cathode. On utilise de préférence une structure de cathode différente à quantité inférieure d'additif hydrophobe dans le substrat de cathode pour les cellules électrochimiques à alimentation liquide. De plus, il est possible d'utiliser une cathode plus mince sans nuire aux performances de la cellule électrochimique, en combinant un support carboné plus mince dans le substrat de cathode et une sous-couche à base de carbone entre le substrat de cathode et la couche électrocatalytique.

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