# US 8,568,942 B2 · Gas diffusion electrode, method for manufacturing the same and membrane electrode assembly

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- Number: US 8,568,942 B2
- Document ID: US8568942B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/440,292
- Filed: 2007-09-04
- Published: 2010-09-16
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-09-07
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Makoto Ito; Hirokazu Ishimaru
- Inventors: Makoto Ito; Hirokazu Ishimaru
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8568942B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/8652: {as mixture}
- H01M 4/8807: {Gas diffusion layers}
- H01M 4/881: {Electrolytic membranes}
- H01M 4/8828: {Coating with slurry or ink}
- H01M 4/8882: {Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking}
- H01M 4/926: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 4/96: Carbon-based electrodes
- H01M 8/004: {Cylindrical, tubular or wound}
- H01M 8/0213: Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
- H01M 8/0221: Organic resins; Organic polymers
- H01M 8/0226: in the form of mixtures
- H01M 8/0243: in the form of mixtures
- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A porous gas diffusion electrode provided on a polymer electrolyte such that a gas can be introduced, for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, includes a carbon fiber, and an electric conductive polymer and a thermoset resin that bond the carbon fibers to each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A porous gas diffusion electrode provided on a polymer electrolyte such that a gas can be introduced, for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising:
a carbon fiber;
an electric conductive polymer and a thermoset resin that bond the carbon fibers to each other; and
a high boiling point solvent having a boiling point higher than a cure temperature of the thermoset resin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gas diffusion electrode of claim 1, wherein a predetermined slurry for an electrode is provided on the polymer electrolyte by dip coating.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gas diffusion electrode of claim 1, wherein the electric conductive polymer is polyethylene dioxythiophene.

### Claim 4

A method for manufacturing a porous gas diffusion electrode provided on a polymer electrolyte such that a gas can be introduced, for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising steps for:
preparing a slurry for an electrode including a carbon fiber, an electric conductive polymer, a thermoset resin and a high boiling point solvent having a boiling point higher than a cure temperature of the thermoset resin;
applying the slurry for an electrode onto the polymer electrolyte; and
drying the applied slurry for an electrode in a drying treatment to cure the thermoset resin.

### Claim 5

A method for manufacturing a porous gas diffusion electrode provided on a polymer electrolyte such that a gas can be introduced, for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising steps for:
preparing a slurry for an electrode including a carbon fiber, an electric conductive polymer and a high boiling point solvent having a boiling point higher than a cure temperature of a thermoset resin;
forming a sheet product including the thermoset resin using the slurry for an electrode; and
drying the sheet product in a drying treatment to cure the thermoset resin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a polymer electrolyte layer;
catalyst layers formed on each surface of the polymer electrolyte layer; and
gas diffusion electrodes of claim 1 formed on the respective surfaces of the catalyst layers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a polymer electrolyte layer;
catalyst layers formed on each surface of the polymer electrolyte layer; and
gas diffusion electrodes of claim 2 formed on the respective surfaces of the catalyst layers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a polymer electrolyte layer;
catalyst layers formed on each surface of the polymer electrolyte layer; and
gas diffusion electrodes of claim 3 formed on the respective surfaces of the catalyst layers.