Multilayer structure incorporating a mat of carbon nanotubes as diffusion layer in a PEMFC
AssigneeCommissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
InventorsArnaud Morin, Jean Dijon, Raphael Ramos
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Abstract
A multilayer structure, of use as composite diffusion layer in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, including at least one mat of carbon nanotubes having a unit diameter of less than or equal to 20 nm, defining at least one face of the structure, the mat of carbon nanotubes being superposed on a support based on carbon fibres. It also relates to a process for preparing such a multilayer structure and to the use thereof for an electrode of a PEMFC.
Claims33
A multilayer structure, of use as composite diffusion layer in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising at least one mat of carbon nanotubes having a unit diameter of less than or equal to 20 nm, defining at least one face of said structure, said mat of carbon nanotubes being superposed on a support based on carbon fibres, wherein the support based on carbon fibres is impregnated over part of its volume by at least one hydrophobic agent, and/or a face of the support opposite the CNT mat is hydrophobic or coated with a film incorporating at least one hydrophobic agent,
- wherein the interface between the support based on carbon fibres and the mat of carbon nanotubes which is superposed thereon comprises a stack of thin layers comprising, in this order, from the support up to the mat of nanotubes:
- a/optionally a metal layer made of metal M or layer made of metal alloy based on the metal M or layer made of graphene;
- b/a titanium layer;
- c/an aluminium layer;
- d/a layer of material(s) that catalyse(s) the growth of carbon nanotubes.
A process for preparing a multilayer structure, of use as composite diffusion layer in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising at least the following steps:
- (i) producing, on at least one of the faces of a support based on carbon fibres, comprising less than 30% by weight of hydrophobic agent, a catalytic stack of thin layers, comprising in this order:
- a/ optionally a metal layer made of metal M or layer made of metal alloy based on the metal M or layer made of graphene;
- b/ a titanium layer;
- c/ an aluminium layer;
- d/ a layer of material(s) that catalyse(s) the growth of carbon nanotubes;
- and
- (ii) growing a mat of carbon nanotubes on the stack according to a chemical vapour deposition technique, which is optionally plasma enhanced, and optionally hot-filament activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.