Microwave annealing of membranes for use in fuel cell assemblies
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsSteven Hamrock, Michael Yandrasits, Adam Puhl
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Abstract
Methods of manufacturing a film involve providing a coating of an ion-containing polymer or ion-containing polymer precursor and annealing the coating to form a film using microwave radiation. Methods of manufacturing an ion-containing membrane for use in a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell involve coating a solution of an ion-containing polymer or ion-containing polymer precursor to form a cast membrane of the membrane electrode assembly, and annealing the cast membrane using microwave radiation. The cast membrane may comprise a PEM, for example, which may be incorporated in a fuel cell assembly.
Claims27
A method of manufacturing a film, comprising:
- providing a coating comprising an ion-containing polymer or ion-containing polymer precursor;
- and
- microwave annealing the coating.
A method of manufacturing an ion-containing membrane for use in a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell, comprising:
- coating a solution or suspension of an ion-containing polymer or ion-containing polymer precursor to form a membrane of the membrane electrode assembly;
- and
- microwave annealing the membrane.
A sub-assembly for use in manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell, comprising:
- a membrane comprising an ion-containing polymer;
- and
- a liner in contact with the membrane, the liner having an upper use temperature about equal to or less than a film forming temperature associated with the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.