# US 12,009,528 B2 · Catalyst complex for fuel cell, method of manufacturing the catalyst complex, electrolyte membrane including the catalyst complex and method of manufacturing the electrolyte membrane

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- Number: US 12,009,528 B2
- Document ID: US12009528B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/992,120
- Filed: 2022-11-22
- Published: 2023-03-16
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-25
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Inventors: Seung Jeong Oh; Woong Pyo Hong; Byoung Su Kim; Min Kyung Kim; Soon Hong Park; Yong Min Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009528B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/925: {supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers}
- H01M 8/1018: Polymeric electrolyte materials
- H01M 4/8892: {Impregnation or coating of the catalyst layer, e.g. by an ionomer}
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/102: characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
- H01M 8/1051: Non-ion-conducting additives, e.g. stabilisers, SiO2 or ZrO2
- H01M 8/1069: characterised by the manufacturing processes
- H01M 8/1081: starting from solutions, dispersions or slurries exclusively of polymers
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- 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

Disclosed are a catalyst complex and a method of manufacturing the same. The catalyst complex may be manufactured by uniformly depositing metal catalyst particles on pretreated support particles through an atomic layer deposition process using a fluidized-bed reactor, which may be then uniformly dispersed throughout the ionomer solution. As such, manufacturing costs may be reduced due to the use of a small amount of metal catalyst particles and the durability of an electrolyte membrane and OCV may increase. Further disclosed are a method of manufacturing the catalyst complex, an electrolyte membrane including the catalyst complex, and a method of manufacturing the electrolyte membrane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a catalyst complex for a fuel cell, comprising:
preparing support particles containing a functional group; and
manufacturing a catalyst complex by attaching metal catalyst particles to the support particles,
wherein the support particles comprise an ionomer, and
wherein the support particles are prepared by steps comprising:
dispersing the support particles in an aqueous solution comprising an acid and performing acid treatment, washing, filtration and heat treatment; or
placing the support particles in a reactor and adding ozone (O3) thereto.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the support particles comprise a hydroxyl functional group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst complex is manufactured by steps comprising:
reacting the support particles with a metal catalyst precursor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metal catalyst particles are attached to the support particles in a fluidized-bed reactor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein in the fluidized-bed reactor, a pressure is of about 0.1 to 5 torr and a temperature is of about 150 to 200° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein a purging gas and a reactive gas are introduced into the fluidized-bed reactor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the purging gas is introduced at a flow rate of about 50 to 200 sccm and the reactive gas is introduced at a flow rate of about 10 to 200 sccm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst complex comprises an amount of about 5 to 20 wt % of the metal catalyst particles, based on the total weight of the catalyst complex.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst complex is manufactured by steps comprising:
providing the support particles in a fluidized-bed reactor;
supplying a metal catalyst precursor into the fluidized-bed reactor to thus bring the support particles into contact with the metal catalyst precursor;
introducing a purging gas into the fluidized-bed reactor;
introducing a reactive gas into the fluidized-bed reactor; and
re-introducing a purging gas into the fluidized-bed reactor,
wherein a cycle comprising the step of the introducing the reactive gas and the step of the re-introducing the purging gas is repeated once or more.