Inks for nanofiber fuel cell electrode and membrane-electrode-assemblies, and methods of ink formulations
AssigneeVanderbilt University
InventorsPeter N. Pintauro, John Slack
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Abstract
An ink for forming nanofiber fuel cell electrodes, and methods of ink formulations, and membrane-electrode-assemblies for electrochemical devices. The ink includes a first amount of a catalyst, a second amount of an ionomer in a salt form, and a third amount of a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents, where a weight ratio of the first amount to the second and third amounts is in a range of about 1-1.5, and a weight ratio of the second amount to the third amount is in a range of about 1-3. The ink has a solids concentration in a range of about 1-30 wt %. Preferably, the solids concentration is in a range of about 10-15%.
Claims7
An ink usable for forming a fiber electrode for an electrochemical device, comprising:
- a catalyst, an ionomer in a salt form, and a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents, wherein the salt form of the ionomer has some or all of ion-exchange sites in a form SO3X, wherein X is a monovalent metal cation, a quaternary ammonium cation, or a multivalent cation, wherein the monovalent metal cation comprises Na+, Li+ or Cs+, the quaternary ammonium cation comprises N(CH3)4+ or N(CH2CH3)4+ and the multivalent cation comprises Ni2+ or Co2+,
- wherein the catalyst comprises Pt/C;
- wherein the ionomer comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer including Nafion®,
- wherein the carrier polymer comprises polyethylene oxide (PEO), and wherein PEO is about 1 wt % of a total weight of the ink;
- and
- wherein a weight ratio of Pt/C:salt-form Nafion®:PEO is 52:37:11.
A membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for an electrochemical device, comprising:
- an anode, a cathode and a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode,
- wherein at least one of the cathode and the anode is formed of a fiber electrode comprising a network of fibers formed by spinning an ink containing a catalyst, an ionomer in a salt form, and a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents, wherein the salt form of the ionomer has some or all of ion-exchange sites in a form SO3X, wherein X is a monovalent metal cation, a quaternary ammonium cation, or a multivalent cation, wherein the monovalent metal cation comprises Na+, Li+, or Cs+, the quaternary ammonium cation comprises N(CH3)4+ or N(CH2CH3)4+ and the multivalent cation comprises Ni2+, or Co2+,
- wherein the catalyst comprises Pt/C;
- wherein the ionomer comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer including Nafion®;
- wherein the carrier polymer comprises polyethylene oxide (PEO), and wherein PEO is about 1 wt % of a total weight of the ink;
- and
- wherein a weight ratio of Pt/C:salt-form Nafion®:PEO is 52:37:11.
Fibers being formed by spinning an ink, the ink comprising:
- a catalyst, an ionomer in a salt form, and a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents, wherein the salt form of the ionomer has some or all of ion-exchange sites in a form SO3X, wherein X is a monovalent metal cation, a quaternary ammonium cation, or a multivalent cation, wherein the monovalent metal cation comprises Na+, Li+ or Cs+, the quaternary ammonium cation comprises N(CH3)4+ or N(CH2CH3)4+ and the multivalent cation comprises Ni2+ or Co2+,
- wherein the catalyst comprises Pt/C;
- wherein the ionomer comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer including Nafion®;
- wherein the carrier polymer comprises polyethylene oxide (PEO), and wherein PEO is about 1 wt % of a total weight of the ink;
- and
- wherein a weight ratio of Pt/C:salt-form Nafion®:PEO is 52:37:11.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.