Inks for nanofiber fuel cell electrode and membrane-electrode-assemblies, and methods of ink formulations

A method of forming a fiber electrode for an electrochemical device, comprising:

• providing an ink containing a first amount of a catalyst, a second amount of an ionomer in a salt form, and a third amount of a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents, wherein a weight ratio of the first amount to the second and third amounts is in a range of about 1-1.5, and a weight ratio of the second amount to the third amount is in a range of about 1-3, and wherein the ink has a solids concentration in a range of about 1-30 wt %;
• and
• spinning the ink to generate fibers and deposit the generated fibers on a collector substrate to form a fiber electrode comprising a network of fibers, wherein each fiber has a plurality of particles of the catalyst distributed thereon.

A membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for an electrochemical device, comprising:

• an anode, a cathode and a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode,
• wherein at least one of the cathode and the anode is formed of a fiber electrode comprising a network of fibers formed by spinning an ink containing a first amount of a catalyst, a second amount of an ionomer in a salt form, and a third amount of a carrier polymer dispersed in one or more solvents.