EP0226911A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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An improved solid polymer electrolyte electrode
Assignee: Dow Chemical Co
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Filing: 1986-12-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising a membrane sheet (120); a plurality of electrically conductive particles (110); and an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix structure (130); wherein the electrically conductive particles and the electrically conductive matrix are in physical and electrical contact with each other and are embedded in or bonded to the membrane sheet. The invention also resides in a method of forming the SPE structure.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Mcintyre
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Birdwell
- 👤 Bruce R. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/1004; C; C25; C25B; C25B13/00; C25B13/02; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23; H01M8/1016; H01M8/1018; H01M8/102; H01M8/1023; H01M8/1039; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) a membrane sheet; (b) a plurality of catalytically active and electrically conductive particles; and (c) an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix structure; wherein the particles and the matrix are in physical and electrical contact with each other and are embedded in or bonded to the membrane sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) a membrane sheet; (b) a plurality of catalytically active and electrically conductive particles; and (c) an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix structure; wherein the particles and the matrix are in physical and electrical contact with each other and are embedded in or bonded to the membrane sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 1 wherein the membrane sheet is selected from a hydrocarbon polymer and a fluorocarbon polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 2 wherein the membrane sheet has a thickness of from 0.0025 to 0.4 mm and an equivalent weight of from 500 to 2000.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plurality of electrically conductive particles constitute an anode and are selected from oxides of ruthenium, iridium, rhodium, platinum, palladium and oxides of a film-forming metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plurality of electrically conductive particles constitute a cathode and are selected from platinum group metals or metal oxides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 5 wherein the plurality of electrically conductive particles are ruthenium or ruthenium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrically conductive particles form an anode on one side of the membrane sheet and a cathode on the opposite side of the membrane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrically conductive particles form an electrode on one side of the membrane sheet and a porous metal plate forming an electrode on the other side of said membrane sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electrolyte structure of any one of the preceding claim wherein said hydraulically permeable matrix is selected from carbon cloth, carbon paper, carbon felt, metallic screens, metallic felt, and porous metallic sheets, said matrix having a thickness of from 0.05 to 0.65 mm and a resistivity of from 600,000 to 1375 microohm-centi meters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrolyte structure of Claim 9 wherein the hydraulically permeable matrix is formed from carbon cloth or woven carbon fibers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for forming a solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) forming a mixture of a binder and a plurality of catalytically active, electrically conductive particles; (b) forming the mixture into a particle containing film; (c) contacting the film with a fluorocarbon membrane in its thermoplastic form; (d) contacting the particle-containing film with an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix, thereby forming a laminate having a membrane on one side, a matrix on another side and a plurality of catalytically active particles therebetween; and (e) applying sufficient pressure to the laminate to embed at least a portion of the matrix into the membrane while the membrane is in its thermoplastic form.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for forming a solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) forming a mixture of a binder and a plurality of catalytically active, electrically conductive particles; (b) forming the mixture into a particle containing film; (c) contacting the film with a fluorocarbon membrane in its thermoplastic form; (d) contacting the particle-containing film with an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix, thereby forming a laminate having a membrane on one side, a matrix on another side and a plurality of catalytically active particles therebetween; and (e) applying sufficient pressure to the laminate to embed at least a portion of the matrix into the membrane while the membrane is in its thermoplastic form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of Claim 11 wherein the binder is polytetrafluoroethylene or a fluorocarbon ion exchange active polymer in its thermoplastic form.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for forming a solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) heating a fluorocarbon membrane, while it is in its thermoplastic form, to a temperature at which it softens; (b) contacting a plurality of electrically conductive, catalytically active particles with at least a portion of one face of the membrane, while said membrane is in a softened state to form a membrane/-particle composite; (c) subjecting the membrane/particle composite to a pressure sufficient to embed at least a portion of the particles into the membrane; (d) contacting the membrane/particle composite with an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix to form a particulated membrane/matrix composite, and (e) subjecting the particulated membrane/-matrix combination to a pressure sufficient to embed at least a portion of the matrix into the particulated membrane.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for forming a solid polymer electrolyte structure comprising: (a) heating a fluorocarbon membrane, while it is in its thermoplastic form, to a temperature at which it softens; (b) contacting a plurality of electrically conductive, catalytically active particles with at least a portion of one face of the membrane, while said membrane is in a softened state to form a membrane/-particle composite; (c) subjecting the membrane/particle composite to a pressure sufficient to embed at least a portion of the particles into the membrane; (d) contacting the membrane/particle composite with an electrically conductive, hydraulically permeable matrix to form a particulated membrane/matrix composite, and (e) subjecting the particulated membrane/-matrix combination to a pressure sufficient to embed at least a portion of the matrix into the particulated membrane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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