Acrylic fiber bonded carbon fiber paper as gas diffusion media for fuel cell
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsChunxin Ji, Gerald J. Fleming, Mark Mathias
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas diffusion media for a fuel cell, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, is provided. The gas diffusion media includes carbonizable acrylic pulp fibers instead of conventional phenolic resin as a binder material. The acrylic fibers are mixed with the carbon fiber dispersion during the papermaking step, thus eliminating the phenolic resin impregnation step typically associated with conventional gas diffusion media manufacturing processes. The mat is then cured and carbonized to produce gas diffusion media.
Claims22
A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells, comprising:
- a mat comprised of plurality of carbon fibers;
- and
- a plurality of acrylic pulp fibers incorporated into the carbon fiber mat;
- wherein the acrylic pulp fibers are cured and carbonized after incorporation into the carbon fiber mat, and wherein the carbon fibers are present in a range of about 25 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the gas diffusion layer prior to curing and carbonization.
A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells, comprising:
- a mat comprised of a plurality of carbon fibers;
- and
- a plurality of acrylic pulp fibers incorporated into the carbon fiber mat;
- wherein the acrylic pulp fibers are cured and carbonized after incorporation into the carbon fiber mat;
- wherein the carbon fibers are present in a range of about 25 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the gas diffusion layer prior to being cured and carbonized;
- wherein the acrylic pulp fibers are present in a range of about 50 to about 75 weight percent based on the total weight of the gas diffusion layer prior to being cured and carbonized.
A method for forming a gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells, comprising:
- providing a plurality of carbon fibers;
- providing a plurality of acrylic pulp fibers;
- combining the acrylic pulp fibers and the carbon fibers to form a mat;
- and
- curing and carbonizing the acrylic fibers, wherein the carbon fibers are present in a range of about 25 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the gas diffusion layer prior to curing and carbonization.
A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells, comprising:
- a mat comprised of plurality of carbon fibers;
- and
- a plurality of acrylic pulp fibers incorporated into the carbon fiber mat;
- wherein the acrylic pulp fibers are cured and carbonized after incorporation into the carbon fiber mat, and wherein the acrylic pulp fibers are present in a range of about 50 to about 75 weight percent based on the total weight of the gas diffusion layer prior to curing and carbonization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.