Electrode with catalyst segmentation
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorJames Waldecker
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Abstract
A fuel cell assembly includes an anode with a catalyst layer and a gas inlet end, and a cathode with a catalyst layer and a gas inlet end. The assembly comprises a catalyst layer including a first and second set of catalyst segment pairs spaced apart respectively with first and second distances, a first ratio of an average segment width of the first set of catalyst segment pairs relative to the first distance being different from a second ratio of an average segment width of the second set of catalyst segment pairs relative to the second distance.
Claims27
A fuel cell assembly including an anode with a catalyst layer and a gas inlet end, and a cathode with a catalyst layer and a gas inlet end, the assembly comprising:
- a catalyst layer including a first and second set of catalyst segment pairs spaced apart respectively with first and second distances, a first ratio of an average segment width of the first set of catalyst segment pairs relative to the first distance being different from a second ratio of an average segment width of the second set of catalyst segment pairs relative to the second distance.
A method of improving the durability of a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, with an inlet and an outlet, comprising the step of:
- reducing the in-plane transfer of electrons within the anode by providing a catalyst layer with predefined segments.
A method of improving a hydrogen fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, comprising the step of:
- creating a predefined hydrogen/air front on the cathode to enable lower half-cell potentials and higher surface area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.