US6042959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Membrane electrode assembly and method of its manufacture
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 1997-10-10
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Granted: 2000-03-28
•
Expires: 2017-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for making a membrane electrode that employs a composite membrane, which include both a porous membrane and an ion conducting electrolyte, by partially filling a porous membrane with an ion conducting electrolyte to form a partially filled membrane and then compressing the partially filled membrane with electrode particles so as to remove void volume from the partially filled membrane and embed the electrode particles in the partially filled membrane. The membrane electrode of this invention is suitable for use in electrochemical devices, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells, electrolyzers, chlor-alkali separation membranes, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark K. Debe
- 👤 Thao Ngoc Pham
- 👤 Andrew J. Steinbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; H01M4/88; H01M4/8878; H01M4/8896; C; C25; C25B; C25B13/00; C25B13/04; C25B13/08; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; G01N27/125; G01N27/127; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/1004; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108; Y10T29/49112; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31721; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making a membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: a) partially filling a porous membrane with an ion conducting electrolyte to form a partially filled membrane; b) providing electrode particles; and c) compressing together said partially filled membrane and electrode particles so as to remove void volume from said partially filled membrane and embed said electrode particles in said partially filled membrane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of making a membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: a) partially filling a porous membrane with an ion conducting electrolyte to form a partially filled membrane; b) providing electrode particles; and c) compressing together said partially filled membrane and electrode particles so as to remove void volume from said partially filled membrane and embed said electrode particles in said partially filled membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said electrode particles are nanostructured elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said ion conducting electrolyte is polystyrenyl trifluoromethyl sulfonylimide (p-STSI).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said porous membrane is polypropylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein said porous membrane is prepared by thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of said membrane electrode assembly is less than or equal to about two thirds of the thickness of the porous membrane before partial filling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of said membrane electrode assembly is less than or equal to about one third of the thickness of the porous membrane before partial filling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of partially filling the porous membrane comprises at least one immersion step, comprising a) immersing the porous membrane in a solution of the ion conducting electrolyte and then b) drying the membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 8 comprising at least two immersion steps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of partially filling the porous membrane comprises mechanically compressing together the porous membrane and a solution of the ion conducting electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of partially filling the porous membrane comprises forcing a solution of the ion conducting electrolyte into the porous membrane by air pressure differential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrochemical device comprising the membrane electrode assembly made according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fuel cell comprising the membrane electrode assembly made according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A membrane electrode assembly made according to the method of claim 1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |