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Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMark K. Debe, James M. Larson, William V. Balsimo, Andrew J. Steinbach, Raymond J. Ziegler
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Membrane electrode assemblies are described that include an ion conductive membrane a catalyst adjacent to the major surfaces of the ion conductive membrane and a porous particle filled polymer membrane adjacent to the ion conductive membrane. The catalyst can be disposed on the major surfaces of the ion conductive membrane. Preferably, the catalyst is disposed in nanostructures. The polymer film serving as the electrode backing layer preferably is processed by heating the particle loaded porous film to a temperature within about 20 degrees of the melting point of the polymer to decrease the Gurley value and the electrical resistivity. The MEAs can be produced in a continuous roll process. The MEAs can be used to produce fuel cells, electrolyzers and electrochemical reactors.
A method of producing an electrically conductive polymer film comprising the step of heating a porous, polymer film comprising a polymer matrix and about 45 to about 98 percent by weight electrically conductive particles to a temperature within 20° C. of the melting point of said polymer matrix for sufficient time to decrease the Gurley value of said film by at least about 25 percent and decrease the electrical resistivity of said film by at least about 25 percent while substantially maintaining the physical integrity and mechanical properties of said film upon cooling.
A method of producing a film comprising a polymer and greater than about 45 percent by weight conducting particles, said method comprising the steps of heating to a temperature from about the melting point to about 20 degrees C. above the melting point and then stretching the film from about 25 percent to about 150 percent of their original length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.