Electrode for solid polymer fuel cell
First Claim
1. An electrode for a solid polymer fuel cell comprising:
- a gas diffusion layer for uniformly diffusing reactant gases;
an electrode catalyst layer disposed between a solid polymer membrane of the fuel cell and the gas diffusion layer to support a catalyst for reaction of the diffused reactant gases; and
a water-holding layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer to enhance a water-retaining capability of the gas diffusion layer, wherein the electrode catalyst layer is made porous to facilitate drainage of water from the electrode catalyst layer.
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Abstract
An electrode for a solid polymer fuel cell includes a gas diffusion layer, an electrode catalyst layer disposed between a solid polymer membrane of the fuel cell and the gas diffusion layer, and a water-holding layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer. Under high-relative humidity conditions of reaction gases, flooding can be prevented because the electrode catalyst layer is made porous, while under low-relative humidity conditions of reaction gases, sufficient water contents can be stably provided thanks to the water-holding layer so that proton conductivity of the solid polymer membrane can be maintained appropriately. Consequently, high-performance and high-durability electrode and membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer fuel cell can be provided such that the performance and the durability thereof are not affected by change in relative humidity in reactant gases supplied to the solid polymer fuel cell.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electrode for a solid polymer fuel cell comprising:
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a gas diffusion layer for uniformly diffusing reactant gases;
an electrode catalyst layer disposed between a solid polymer membrane of the fuel cell and the gas diffusion layer to support a catalyst for reaction of the diffused reactant gases; and
a water-holding layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer to enhance a water-retaining capability of the gas diffusion layer, wherein the electrode catalyst layer is made porous to facilitate drainage of water from the electrode catalyst layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A membrane electrode assembly for a solid polymer fuel cell comprising:
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a pair of electrodes; and
a solid polymer membrane disposed between the electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes includes;
a gas diffusion layer for uniformly diffusing reactant gases;
an electrode catalyst layer disposed between the solid polymer membrane and the gas diffusion layer to support a catalyst for reaction of the diffused reactant gases; and
a water-holding layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the electrode catalyst layer to enhance a water-retaining capability of the gas diffusion layer, wherein the electrode catalyst layer is made porous to facilitate drainage of water from the electrode catalyst layer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification