Oxidatively stable microlayers of gas diffusion layers
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJoseph Frisk, Wayne Boand
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Abstract
The present invention is a microlayer for use with an electrically conductive porous substrate of a gas diffusion layer. The microlayer includes carbon particles and a polymeric composition of first highly-fluorinated polymers that are non-melt processable and second highly-fluorinated polymers that are melt processable.
Claims27
A microlayer for use with an electrically conductive porous substrate of a gas diffusion layer, the microlayer comprising:
- carbon particles;
- and
- a polymeric composition comprising:
- first highly-fluorinated polymers that are non-melt processable;
- and
- second highly-fluorinated polymers that are melt processable.
A microlayer for use with an electrically conductive porous substrate of a gas diffusion layer, the microlayer comprising:
- carbon particles;
- and
- a polymer mixture comprising:
- first highly-fluorinated polymers having melt flow indices of less than about 0.5 grams/10 minutes;
- and
- second highly-fluorinated polymers having melt flow indices of at least about one gram/10 minutes.
A method of manufacturing a gas diffusion layer of a membrane electrode assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a suspension comprising a carrier, a surfactant, carbon particles, first highly-fluorinated polymers that are non-melt processable, and second highly-fluorinated polymers that are melt processable;
- coating the suspension onto an electrically conductive porous substrate;
- and
- sintering the first highly-fluorinated polymers and the second highly fluorinated polymers.
An electrochemical device comprising:
- an electrolyte membrane having a surface;
- a catalyst layer disposed adjacent the surface of the electrolyte membrane;
- a microlayer disposed adjacent the catalyst layer, opposite the electrolyte membrane, wherein the microlayer comprises carbon particles and a polymeric composition, wherein the polymeric composition comprises first highly-fluorinated polymers that are non-melt processable and second highly-fluorinated polymers that are melt processable;
- and
- an electrically conductive porous substrate disposed adjacent the microlayer, opposite the catalyst layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.