# US 2014/0193740 A1 · Fuel cell comprising a proton-exchange membrane, having an increased service life

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- Number: US 2014/0193740 A1
- Document ID: US20140193740A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/008,609
- Filed: 2012-03-29
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-31
- Assignees: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
- Inventors: Remi Vincent; Sylvie Escribano; Alejandro Franco; Laure Guetaz; Guillaume Krosnicki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193740A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 4/8636: {with a gradient in another property than porosity (H01M4/861 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/8642: {Gradient in composition}
- H01M 4/8652: {as mixture}
- H01M 4/8657: {layered}
- H01M 4/90: Selection of catalytic material
- H01M 4/9075: {Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers (H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence)}
- H01M 4/9083: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- H01M 4/925: {supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers}
- H01M 4/926: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 8/1007: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- H01M 2004/8689: {Positive electrodes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y10S 977/734: Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc.
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A fuel cell includes a proton-exchange membrane, and a cathode and anode fixed on its opposite sides. The anode delimits a flow conduit between a molecular-oxygen inlet area and a water outlet area. The cathode includes a support for catalyst material. The support has first and second materials to which catalyst is fixed, the first material being a graphitized material. The second material has a resistance to corrosion by oxygen that is greater than that of the first material. A quantity of the second material at the inlet area is greater than a quantity of the second material at the water outlet. The cathode comprises a first layer including the first material and a second layer including the second material. A thickness of the second layer decreases between the molecular-oxygen inlet area and the water outlet area.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-5. (canceled)

### Claim 6

A manufacture comprising a fuel cell, said fuel cell comprising a proton-exchange membrane, a cathode fixed on a first side of said proton-exchange membrane, and an anode fixed on a second side of said proton-exchange membrane, wherein said anode delimits a flow conduit between a molecular-oxygen inlet area and a water outlet area, wherein said cathode comprises a support for said catalyst material, wherein said support for said catalyst material comprises a first material to which catalyst is fixed and a second material to which catalyst is fixed, wherein said first material comprises a graphitized material, wherein said second material has a resistance to corrosion by oxygen that is greater than a resistance to corrosion by oxygen of said first material, wherein a quantity of said second material at said molecular-oxygen inlet area is greater than a quantity of said second material at said water outlet, wherein said cathode comprises a first layer including said first material and a second layer including said second material, and wherein a thickness of said second layer decreases between said molecular-oxygen inlet area and said water outlet area.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein a concentration of said second material at said molecular-oxygen inlet area is greater than 10% by mass.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein a concentration of said second material at said molecular-oxygen inlet area is greater, by at least 50%, than a concentration of said second material at said water outlet area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein said second material comprises fullerene.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein said second material comprises titanium dioxide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein said second material comprises stannic oxide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The manufacture of claim 6, wherein said anode delimits a flow conduit between a molecular-hydrogen inlet area and a molecular-hydrogen outlet area, and wherein said molecular-hydrogen outlet area is disposed to face said molecular-oxygen inlet area.