Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for making an improved membrane/electrode combination comprising: (a) at least partially coating at least a portion of a first face of a screen template with a plurality of catalytically active particles, wherein said substantially flat screen has the first face and a second face and a plurality of openings passing therethrough connecting the first and second faces of the screen, said openings occupying up to about 75% of the surface area of each face of the screen template; (b) contacting an ion exchange membrane with the coated face of the substantially flat screen template; (c) transferring the catalytically active particles from the screen template to the membrane; (d) removing the screen template; (e) bonding the catalytically active particles to the membrane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for making an improved membrane/electrode combination comprising: (a) at least partially coating at least a portion of a first face of a screen template with a plurality of catalytically active particles, wherein said substantially flat screen has the first face and a second face and a plurality of openings passing therethrough connecting the first and second faces of the screen, said openings occupying up to about 75% of the surface area of each face of the screen template; (b) contacting an ion exchange membrane with the coated face of the substantially flat screen template; (c) transferring the catalytically active particles from the screen template to the membrane; (d) removing the screen template; (e) bonding the catalytically active particles to the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the openings occupy from about 40 to about 60% of the surface area of each face of the screen template.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the openings in the screen template occupy from about 45 to about 55% of the surface area of each face of the screen template.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the catalytically active particles are in the form of a solution/dispersion for coating onto the screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is sprayed onto the screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is brushed onto the screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is coated onto the screen in a plurality of coats.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion includes an ionomer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the ionomer is the same polymer as the ion exchange membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the catalytically active particles are bonded to the membrane by heating and pressing the coated membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
263 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the ionomer binder is a copolymer of a first type monomer and a second type monomer, wherein first type of monomer is represented by the general formula: CF.sub.2 ═CZZ' (I) where: Z and Z' are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --Cl, --F, or --CF 3 ; and the second type of monomer consists of one or more monomers selected from compounds represented by the general formula: Y--(CF.sub.2).sub.a --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b --(CFR.sub.f').sub.c --O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X)--CF.sub.2 --O].sub.n --CF═CF.sub.2 (II) where: Y is selected from the group consisting of --SO 2 Z, --CN, --COZ, and C(R 3 f)(R 4 f)OH; Z is --I, --Br, --Cl, --F, --OR, or --NR 1 R 2 ; R is a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; R 3 f and R 4 f are independently selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, a branched or linear alkyl radical having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl radical; a is 0-6; b is 0-6; c is 0 or 1; provided a+b+c is not equal to 0; X is --Cl, --Br, --F, or mixtures thereof when n>1; n is 0 to 6; and R f and R f' are independently selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and fluorochloroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11 wherein Y is --SO 2 F or --COOCH 3 ; n is 0 or 1; R f and R f' are --F; X is --Cl or --F; and a+b+c is 2 or 3.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the copolymer also includes a third type of monomer selected from the compounds represented by the general formula: Y'--(CF.sub.2).sub.a' --(CFR.sub.f).sub.b' --(CFR.sub.f').sub.c' --O--[CF(CF.sub.2 X')--CF.sub.2 --O].sub.n' --CF═CF.sub.2 (III) where: Y' is --F, --Cl or --Br; a' and b' are independently 0-3; c is 0 or 1; provided a'+b'+c' is not equal to 0; n' is 0-6; R f and R f' are independently selected from the group consisting of --Br, --Cl, --F, perfluoroalkyl radicals having from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; and X' is --F, --Cl, --Br, or mixtures thereof when n'>1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is formed from a solvent/dispersant represented by the general formula: XCF.sub.2 --CYZ--X' wherein: X is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, --Br and --I; X' is selected from the group consisting of --Cl, --Br, and --I; Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I and --R'; R' is selected from the group of perfluoroalkyl radicals and chloroperfluoroalkyl radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the solvent/dispersant is 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the solvent/dispersant is 1,2,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a solute in the solution/dispersion contains from about 4 to about 20 weight percent ionomer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a solute in the solution/dispersion contains from about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent catalytically active particles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a solute in the solution/dispersion contains from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of an electrically conductive metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a solution/dispersion is blended for from about 4 to about 24 hours in a ball mill.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion contains about 25 weight percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the screen is cleaned prior to being coated with the solution/dispersion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is coated to a thickness of about 20 to 50 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the solution/dispersion is coated to a thickness of about 5-10 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ion exchange membrane is a bilayer membrane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the ion exchange membrane has a layer containing sulfonic ion exchange groups, and a layer containing carboxylic ion exchange groups.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the membrane is in its thermoplastic or sodium form.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the membrane is in its hydrogen form.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the screen is bonded to the membrane under pressure at a temperature of up to about 260° C.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the screen is bonded to the membrane under pressure at a temperature of up to about 180° C.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the screen is bonded to the membrane under a pressure of up to about 3.5 kilograms per square centimeter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the screen is bonded to the membrane under a pressure of up to about 3.5 kilograms per square centimeter.