# US 7,608,358 B2 · Fuel cell anode structure for voltage reversal tolerance

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- Number: US 7,608,358 B2
- Document ID: US7608358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/400,352
- Filed: 2009-03-09
- Published: 2009-07-23
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-25
- Assignees: BDF IP Holdings Ltd.
- Inventors: Siyu Ye
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608358B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/90: Selection of catalytic material
- H01M 4/8636: {with a gradient in another property than porosity (H01M4/861 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/8652: {as mixture}
- H01M 4/9016: {Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts}
- 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 4/921: {Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements}
- H01M 4/925: {supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers}
- H01M 4/926: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 8/1011: Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell is presented having first and second catalyst compositions and a hydrophobic binder. The first catalyst composition includes a noble metal, other than Ru, on a corrosion-resistant support material; the second catalyst composition contains a single-phase solid solution of a metal oxide containing Ru. The through-plane concentration of ionomer in the catalyst layer decreases as a function of distance from the membrane interface. Gas diffusion electrodes, catalyst-coated membranes, MEAs and fuel cells having the foregoing anode catalyst layer are also described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte interposed between an anode and cathode, a cathode catalyst layer interposed between the electrolyte and the cathode, and an anode catalyst layer interposed between the electrolyte and the anode, the anode catalyst layer comprising:
a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal, other than Ru, on a corrosion resistant support material;
a second catalyst composition consisting essentially of a single-phase solid solution of a metal oxide containing Ru; and
a hydrophobic binder,
wherein a through-plane concentration of an ionomer in the catalyst layer decreases as a function of distance from the electrolyte.

### Claim 2

A catalyst-coated membrane comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a cathode catalyst layer on at least a portion of a first major surface thereof, and an anode catalyst layer on at least a portion of a second major surface thereof, the anode catalyst layer comprising:
a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal, other than Ru, on a corrosion resistant support material;
a second catalyst composition consisting essentially of a single-phase solid solution of a metal oxide containing Ru; and
a hydrophobic binder,
wherein a through-plane concentration of an ionomer in the catalyst layer decreases as a function of distance from the membrane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cells each comprising an electrode assembly according to claim 1.