# US 10,320,003 B2 · Method for manufacturing cathode with improved mass transfer capability and cathode manufactured by the method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,320,003 B2
- Document ID: US10320003B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/659,982
- Filed: 2017-07-26
- Published: 2018-07-05
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-30
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation; Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
- Inventors: Jin Yi Choi; Hoon Hui Lee; Gi Su Doo; Hee Tak Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320003B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/8878: {Treatment steps after deposition of the catalytic active composition or after shaping of the electrode being free-standing body}
- H01M 4/8828: {Coating with slurry or ink}
- H01M 4/926: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 2004/8689: {Positive electrodes}
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method of manufacturing a cathode with improved mass transfer capability includes (a) mixing a metal-supported catalyst with an alkane compound having a thiol group and masking a surface of the metal-supported catalyst with the alkane compound having the thiol group by coating; (b) mixing the metal-supported catalyst masked with the alkane compound having the thiol group, with a polymer electrolyte and a solvent to produce a slurry and manufacturing the cathode using the slurry; and (c) producing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using the cathode, an electrolyte membrane and an anode and applying a voltage to the membrane electrode assembly to remove the alkane compound having the thiol group.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a cathode with improved mass transfer capability comprising:
step (a) mixing a metal-supported catalyst with an alkane compound having a thiol group and masking a surface of the metal-supported catalyst with the alkane compound having the thiol group by coating;
step (b) mixing the metal-supported catalyst masked with the alkane compound having the thiol group, with a polymer electrolyte and a solvent to produce a slurry and manufacturing a cathode using the slurry; and
step (c) producing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using the cathode, an electrolyte membrane and an anode and applying a voltage to the MEA to remove the alkane compound having the thiol group,
wherein the voltage is applied to the produced MEA by cyclic voltammetry in step (c).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal-supported catalyst in step (a) is platinum on carbon (Pt/C).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkane compound having a thiol group in step (a) is a C6 to C22 hydrophobic substance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkane compound having the thiol group comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of 1-hexanethiol, 1-octanethiol, 1-decanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol, 1-hexadecanethiol, 1-octadecanethiol, 1-eicosanethiol, and 1-docosanethiol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied within a range from 0.05V to 1.2V at a rate of 30 to 100 mV/s by cyclic voltammetry in step (c).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A cathode with improved mass transfer capability manufactured by the method of claim 1 which comprises:
(a) mixing a metal-supported catalyst with an alkane compound having a thiol group and masking a surface of the metal-supported catalyst with the alkane compound having the thiol group by coating;
(b) mixing the metal-supported catalyst masked with the alkane compound having the thiol group, with a polymer electrolyte and a solvent to produce a slurry and manufacturing the cathode using the slurry; and
(c) producing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using the cathode, an electrolyte membrane and an anode and applying a voltage to the membrane electrode assembly to remove the alkane compound having the thiol group,
wherein the voltage is applied to the produced MEA by cyclic voltammetry in step (c).