Stabilized catalyst layers via controlled cracking
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsDaniil A. Kitchaev, Mordechai Kornbluth, Lei Cheng, Jonathan Braaten, Christina Johnston
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Abstract
Microcracked and crack-free catalyst layers such as for electrodes in electrochemical cells (e.g., fuel cells) and method of making the same are disclosed. The microcracks may improve durability by better tolerating stresses without inducing or propagating into macrocracks. The microcracks also improve efficiency by providing reactant (e.g., oxygen) passages to catalyst in the catalyst layer. The microcracks may be formed in a predetermined pattern to further localize additional reactant passages is conventionally starved or more starved locations.
Claims19
An electrochemical cell comprising:
- a pair of electrodes, at least one of the pair of electrodes including a catalyst composite having an ionomer matrix, a catalyst support dispersed therein, and a catalyst supported by the catalyst support, the catalyst composite having a plurality of stress microcracks, a first section having a first crack density and a second section having a second crack density greater than the first crack density, the plurality of stress microcracks being splits or breaks in the catalyst composite;
- an electrolyte membrane disposed between the pair of electrodes;
- an inlet configured to receive a reactant and contact the reactant with one of the pair of electrodes, the first section being proximate to the inlet;
- and
- an outlet configured to release an exhaust, the second section being proximate to the outlet.
An electrochemical cell comprising:
- a pair of electrodes, at least one of the pair of electrodes including a catalyst composite having an ionomer matrix, a catalyst support dispersed therein, and a catalyst supported by the catalyst support, the catalyst composite having a plurality of microcracks, a first section having a first crack density and a second section having a second crack density greater than the first crack density, each of the plurality of microcracks having jagged edges with changes in direction defining corners;
- and
- a bipolar plate having ribs and channels, the second section mirroring the ribs and the first section mirroring the channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.