Gas barrier for electrochemical cells
AssigneeProton Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid Henderson, Everett Anderson, Durwood Beringer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for an electrochemical cell employing a gas is disclosed. The MEA includes a proton exchange membrane, a first electrode disposed on one side of the membrane, a second electrode disposed on the opposite side of the membrane, and a metallic layer disposed between the membrane and the first electrode, the membrane and the second electrode, or both. The metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for reducing the amount of gas crossover at the membrane by equal to or greater than about 20% as compared to the amount of gas crossover at the membrane in the absence of the metallic layer.
Claims21
A membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for an electrochemical cell employing a gas, the MEA comprising:
- a proton exchange membrane;
- a first electrode disposed on one side of the membrane;
- a second electrode disposed on the opposite side of the membrane;
- and
- a metallic layer disposed between the membrane and the first electrode, the membrane and the second electrode, or both;
- wherein the metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for reducing the amount of gas crossover at the membrane by equal to or greater than about 20% as compared to the amount of gas crossover at the membrane in the absence of the metallic layer.
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a plurality of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) alternatively arranged with a plurality of flow field members between a first cell separator plate and a second cell separator plate;
- wherein at least one MEA comprises:
- a proton exchange membrane;
- a first electrode disposed on one side of the membrane;
- a second electrode disposed on the opposite side of the membrane;
- and
- a metallic layer disposed between the membrane and the first electrode, the membrane and the second electrode, or both;
- wherein the metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for reducing the amount of hydrogen crossover at the membrane by equal to or greater than about 20% as compared to the amount of hydrogen crossover at the membrane in the absence of the metallic layer;
- and
- wherein the metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for operating the electrochemical cell at an operating pressure difference across the at least one MEA of equal to or greater than about 50 pounds-per-square-inch (psi).
An electrolysis cell, comprising:
- a plurality of membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) alternatively arranged with a plurality of flow field members between a first cell separator plate and a second cell separator plate;
- wherein at least one MEA comprises:
- a proton exchange membrane;
- a first electrode disposed on one side of the membrane;
- a second electrode disposed on the opposite side of the membrane;
- and
- a metallic layer disposed between the membrane and the first electrode, the membrane and the second electrode, or both;
- wherein the metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for reducing the amount of hydrogen crossover at the membrane by equal to or greater than about 20% as compared to the amount of hydrogen crossover at the membrane in the absence of the metallic layer;
- and
- wherein the metallic layer has a composition and thickness suitable for operating the electrochemical cell at an operating pressure difference across the at least one MEA of equal to or greater than about 100 pounds-per-square-inch (psi).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.