# US 12,119,520 B2 · Membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells

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- Number: US 12,119,520 B2
- Document ID: US12119520B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/092,590
- Filed: 2020-11-09
- Published: 2021-02-25
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-19
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Yong Min Kim; Bum Wook Roh; Seok Jung Park; Ki Sub Lee; Ha Yeong Yu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119520B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/0276: Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence)
- H01M 4/8814: {Temporary supports, e.g. decal}
- H01M 4/8817: {Treatment of supports before application of the catalytic active composition (coated porous composites H01M8/0245)}
- H01M 4/8882: {Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking}
- H01M 4/8896: {Pressing, rolling, calendering (membrane electrode assemblies H01M8/1004)}
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/1039: halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
- H01M 8/106: characterised by the chemical composition of the porous support
- H01M 8/1062: characterised by the physical properties of the porous support, e.g. its porosity or thickness
- H01M 8/1093: {mechanical, e.g. pressing, puncturing}
- 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 membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane stacked between different electrodes, wherein an ionomer layer of the electrolyte membrane comprises an adjacent electrode, a first layer having at least a same cross-sectional area as that of the adjacent electrode, a reinforcing layer and a second layer stacked at a side of the first layer, the second layer having at least the same cross-sectional area as that of the reinforcing layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a cathode and an anode;
an electrolyte membrane stacked between the cathode and the anode,
wherein hydrogen gas is decomposed by an oxidation reaction in the anode, and water is generated by reduction reaction in the cathode,
wherein the electrolyte membrane comprises at least one ionomer layer and a reinforcing layer, the at least one ionomer layer including:
a first layer, comprising an ionomer, stacked on one side of the cathode or anode;
a second layer, comprising an ionomer, stacked on one side of the first layer, the second layer having at least the same cross-sectional area as that of the reinforcing layer,
wherein a cross-sectional area of the first layer is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the reinforcing layer and larger than or equal to a cross-sectional area of the cathode or anode,
wherein the cross-sectional areas of the first and second layers, the reinforcing layer, and the cathode or anode are measured in a length-wise direction orthogonal to a stacking direction, and wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the reinforcing layer are stacked between the cathode and the anode in that order.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte membrane comprises the at least one ionomer layer and a porous film having a thickness of 3 to 50 μm and made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sub-gasket bonded to each edge of both surfaces of the cathode or anode and the electrolyte membrane.