Dry floc method for making an electrochemical cell electrode
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsGlen J. Goller, Joseph R. Salonia
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Abstract
A method for making an electrochemical cell electrode involves depositing a layer of dry carbon/hydrophobic polymer floc powder on the surface of a substrate by dispersing the powder as a cloud in a chamber over the substrate and pulling the powder onto the substrate by drawing a vacuum under the substrate. The electrode is subsequently compacted and sintered. Typically the carbon component of the floc is catalyzed, such as with platinum. Thus, the method is for applying a catalyst layer on an electrode substrate. The method is particularly adapted to the high speed manufacture of electrodes.
Claims14
A method for making an electrochemical cell electrode comprising the steps of:
- applying a uniform layer of dry, powdered, carbon/hydrophobic polymer floc on the surface of a porous electrode substrate with virtually no floc within the pores of the substrate by positioning the substrate under a chamber having a bottom edge wherein the said bottom edge of the chamber fits against the edge of the substrate, dispersing the floc as a cloud of powder in the chamber over said surface of said positioned substrate and pulling the floc onto said surface by drawing a continuous vacuum under the substrate until the desired amount of powder has been deposited, wherein said substrate is graphitized carbon paper made from carbon fibers;
- compacting the applied floc layer;
- and,
- sintering the compacted layer.
A method for making an electrochemical cell electrode comprising the steps of:
- forming a co-suspension of carbon particles and hydrophobic polymer particles;
- floccing the co-suspension;
- drying the floc so produced and reducing it to a powder;
- applying a uniform layer of the powder on the surface of a porous electrode substrate with virtually no floc within the pores of the substrate by positioning the substrate under a chamber having a bottom edge wherein the said bottom edge of the chamber fits against the edge of the substrate, dispersing the floc as a cloud of powder in the chamber over said surface of said positioned substrate and pulling the floc onto said surface by drawing a continuous vacuum under the substrate until the desired amount of powder has been deposited, wherein said substrate is graphitized carbon paper made from carbon fibers;
- compacting the applied floc layer;
- and,
- sintering the compacted layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.