Membrane electrode packaging structure and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a membrane electrode packaging structure and method, the membrane electrode packaging structure comprises a proton exchange membrane arranged between two aligned frames, a first recess for accommodating a gas diffusion layer is formed in one end surface, far away from the proton exchange membrane, of each frame through laser etching, and a second recess for coating glue is formed in the bottom of each first recess through laser etching; the glue in the second recess is in contact with the gas diffusion layer accommodated in the first recess; the inner side wall of the first recess is coated with a layer of glue, and the peripheral side of the gas diffusion layer is in contact with the glue on the peripheral side wall of the first recess. The membrane electrode assembly is reasonable in design, the two frames in the membrane electrode assembly are subjected to laser imprinting and sinking, and the gas diffusion layer is embedded in the frames, so that the membrane electrode assembly can be effectively prevented from influencing the performance output of the fuel cell due to the fact that parts in the assembly fall off or are staggered and deviated in the running process of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a membrane electrode packaging structure and method. Background Art

[0002] Fuel cells are an important carrier for the development of hydrogen energy. MEA is the core component of fuel cells. MEA consists of cathode gas diffusion layer, frame, anode gas diffusion layer and proton exchange membrane coated with catalytic layer. The bonding strength between the components plays a vital role in the electrical performance and durability of fuel cells.

[0003] Chinese patent publication number CN 212011141U discloses a membrane electrode packaging structure, which reduces the number of frames and uses only one frame, with the catalyst-coated membrane bonded to a portion of the depression on the top surface of the frame, and the catalyst-coated membrane bonded to the bottom wall of the depression. This method can reduce production costs and reduce the risk of gas leakage in the sealing area, but the membrane electrode assembly prepared by this method is prone to gas diffusion layer misalignment in subsequent fuel cell tests, thereby affecting the output of the fuel cell.

[0004] Chinese patent publication number CN 114551927 B discloses a membrane electrode assembly and its glue injection sealing method, which is to place two layers of frames and proton exchange membranes in a mold, inject sealant into the glue injection mold, so that the sealant wraps the outer surface of the outer edge of the frame assembly, and demolds after curing. This packaging method can make the overall packaging of the membrane electrode assembly more secure, but this method is prone to generate bubbles during the glue injection process, increasing the risk of regional leakage. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention makes improvements to the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, that is, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fuel cell membrane electrode packaging structure and method, which has a reasonable design and can effectively fix the gas diffusion layer, prevent the diffusion layer from shifting, and reduce the risk of gas leakage.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a membrane electrode packaging structure, comprising a proton exchange membrane arranged between two aligned and distributed frames, each frame having an end face away from the proton exchange membrane laser-etched with a first recess for accommodating a gas diffusion layer, and a second recess for applying glue laser-etched at the bottom of the first recess, and the glue in the second recess is in contact with the gas diffusion layer accommodated in the first recess.

[0007] Furthermore, a layer of glue is applied to the inner side wall of the first recess, and the peripheral side of the gas diffusion layer is in contact with the glue on the peripheral side wall of the first recess.

[0008] Furthermore, the shape of the first recess is consistent with the shape of the gas diffusion layer.

[0009] Furthermore, the first recess and the gas diffusion layer are both rectangular, and the length and width of the first recess are the same as the length and width of the gas diffusion layer.

[0010] Furthermore, the depth of the first recess is the same as the thickness of the gas diffusion layer.

[0011] Furthermore, the second recess is in a ring shape and corresponds to the outer peripheral position of the gas diffusion layer.

[0012] Furthermore, the depth of the second recess is 5 to 20 μm, and the width of the bottom wall of the second recess is 1 to 2 mm.

[0013] Furthermore, the two frames are a first frame and a second frame distributed upper and lower, the first recess of the first frame is located on the upper surface, and the first recess of the second frame is located on the lower surface; the proton exchange membrane is coated with a catalytic layer, and the proton exchange membrane is arranged on the lower surface of the first frame.

[0014] Furthermore, the first frame and the second frame are bonded together by glue coated on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane where the catalyst layer is not coated.

[0015] Another technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a membrane electrode packaging method, using two first frames and second frames distributed on the upper and lower sides, comprising the following steps: (1) A first depression is respectively formed by laser etching on the upper surface of the first frame and the lower surface of the second frame, and a second depression is formed at the bottom of the first depression. The shape and size of the first depression are consistent with the shape and size of the gas diffusion layer, and the second depression is ring-shaped and corresponds to the outer peripheral position of the gas diffusion layer; (2) placing a proton exchange membrane coated with a catalyst layer on the lower surface of the first frame, applying glue on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane where the catalyst layer is not applied, and aligning the first frame and the second frame vertically and bonding them; (3) Apply glue in the second recess of the first frame, apply a layer of glue on the inner wall of the first recess of the first frame, place the gas diffusion layer in the first recess of the first frame, make the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer contact with the glue on the inner wall of the first recess, and the inner wall of the first recess seals the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer; install the gas diffusion layer in the second frame in the same way; (4) Place the assembled membrane electrode assembly into a tooling and place it in a hot press for high-temperature hot pressing to shape it.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following effects: the present invention is reasonably designed, and the two frames in the membrane electrode assembly are laser engraved with depressions to embed the gas diffusion layer therein, which can effectively prevent the internal parts of the membrane electrode assembly from falling off or being misplaced during the operation of the fuel cell, thereby affecting the performance output of the fuel cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the exploded state structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the frame in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a top view of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the main cross-sectional structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the figure: 1-gas diffusion layer; 2-first frame; 3-proton exchange membrane; 4-second frame; 5-glue; 6-first depression; 7-second depression. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside" and "outside" etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a membrane electrode packaging structure of the present invention adopts a double frame, including a proton exchange membrane 3 arranged between two upper and lower aligned frames, and each frame is laser-etched with a first recess 6 for accommodating a gas diffusion layer 1 on one end surface away from the proton exchange membrane, and a second recess 7 for applying glue is laser-etched at the bottom of the first recess 6, and the glue 5 in the second recess 7 is in contact with the gas diffusion layer 1 accommodated in the first recess 6. By laser-etching recesses on the outer sides of the upper and lower frames, the gas diffusion layer can be effectively fixed, the diffusion layer can be prevented from being offset, and the risk of gas leakage can be reduced.

[0022] In this embodiment, the two frames are a first frame 2 and a second frame 4 distributed upper and lower, the first recess 6 of the first frame 2 is located on the upper surface, and the first recess 6 of the second frame 4 is located on the lower surface, that is: a gas diffusion layer 1 is arranged on the first frame 2, and a gas diffusion layer 1 is also arranged on the second frame 4; the proton exchange membrane coating 3 has a catalytic layer, and the proton exchange membrane 3 is arranged on the lower surface of the first frame 2.

[0023] In this embodiment, the first frame 2 and the second frame 4 are bonded together by glue coated on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane 3 where the catalyst layer is not coated.

[0024] In this embodiment, a layer of glue is applied to the inner side walls around the first recess 6, the peripheral side of the gas diffusion layer 1 is in contact with the glue on the side walls around the first recess 6, and the inner side walls of the first recess 6 seal the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer 1 to prevent the gas diffusion layer 1 from shifting.

[0025] In this embodiment, the shape of the first recess 6 is consistent with the shape and size of the gas diffusion layer 1. Furthermore, the first recess 6 and the gas diffusion layer 1 are both rectangular, and the length and width of the first recess 6 are the same as the length and width of the gas diffusion layer 1 (that is, the two are of the same size).

[0026] In this embodiment, the depth of the first recess 6 is the same as the thickness of the gas diffusion layer 1 .

[0027] In this embodiment, the second recess 7 is in a ring shape and is located at the bottom periphery of the first recess 6 . The second recess 7 corresponds to the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer 1 .

[0028] In this embodiment, the inner wall of the second recess 7 is the same size as the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer 1 .

[0029] In this embodiment, the depth of the second recess 7 is 5 to 20 μm, the bottom wall width of the second recess 7 is 1 to 2 mm, and the plan view is as shown in FIG. Figure 3 shown.

[0030] A membrane electrode packaging method: Figure 1 As shown, two frames are used, the two frames are a first frame 2 and a second frame 4 distributed on the upper and lower sides, and the packaging method includes the following steps: (1) A first recess 6 is formed by laser etching on the upper surface of the first frame 2 and the lower surface of the second frame 4, and a second recess 7 is formed at the bottom of the first recess 6, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown, the shape and size of the first depression 6 are consistent with the shape and size of the gas diffusion layer 1, and the depth of the first depression 6 is the same as the thickness of the gas diffusion layer 1; the second depression 7 is annular and corresponds to the outer peripheral position of the gas diffusion layer 1, the inner side wall of the second depression 7 is the same as the outer peripheral size of the gas diffusion layer 1, the depth of the second depression 7 is 5 to 20 um, and the bottom wall width of the second depression 7 is 1 to 2 mm. The plan view is as shown in Figure 3 As shown; (2) placing a proton exchange membrane 3 coated with a catalyst layer on the lower surface of the first frame 2, applying glue on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane 3 where the catalyst layer is not applied, and aligning the first frame 2 and the second frame 4 vertically and bonding them; (3) Apply glue in the second recess 7 of the first frame 2, apply a layer of glue on the inner wall of the first recess 6 of the first frame 2, put the gas diffusion layer 1 in the first recess 6 of the first frame 2, make the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer 1 contact with the glue on the inner wall of the first recess 6, and the inner wall of the first recess 6 seals the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer 1 to prevent the gas diffusion layer 1 from shifting; install the gas diffusion layer 1 in the second frame 4 in the same way. Figure 4 As shown; (4) Place the assembled membrane electrode assembly into a tooling and place it in a hot press for high-temperature hot pressing to shape it.

[0031] The advantages of the present invention are that the two frames in the membrane electrode assembly are laser engraved with depressions and the gas diffusion layer is embedded therein, which can effectively prevent the internal parts of the membrane electrode assembly from falling off or being dislocated during the operation of the fuel cell, thereby affecting the performance output of the fuel cell.

[0032] If the present invention discloses or involves components or structures that are fixedly connected to each other, then, unless otherwise stated, the fixed connection can be understood as: a detachable fixed connection (for example, connection using bolts or screws), and can also be understood as: a non-detachable fixed connection (for example, riveting, welding). Of course, the mutual fixed connection can also be replaced by an integrated structure (for example, manufactured by one-piece molding using a casting process) (except when it is obviously impossible to use an one-piece molding process).

[0033] In addition, unless otherwise stated, the terms used to indicate positional relationships or shapes in any of the technical solutions disclosed in the present invention include states or shapes that are approximate, similar, or close to them.

[0034] Any component provided by the present invention may be assembled from a plurality of separate components, or may be a separate component manufactured by an integral forming process.

[0035] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in the field should understand that the specific implementation methods of the present invention can still be modified or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit of the technical solution of the present invention, which should be included in the scope of the technical solution for protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A membrane electrode packaging structure, characterized in that: It comprises a proton exchange membrane arranged between two aligned frames, wherein one end surface of each frame away from the proton exchange membrane is laser-etched with a first recess for accommodating a gas diffusion layer, and the bottom of the first recess is laser-etched with a second recess for coating glue, and the glue in the second recess contacts the gas diffusion layer accommodated in the first recess.

2. A membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner side wall of the first recess is coated with a layer of glue, and the peripheral side of the gas diffusion layer is in contact with the glue on the peripheral side walls of the first recess.

3. The membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shape of the first recess is consistent with the shape of the gas diffusion layer.

4. A membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The first recess and the gas diffusion layer are both rectangular, and the length and width of the first recess are the same as those of the gas diffusion layer.

5. A membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The depth of the first recess is the same as the thickness of the gas diffusion layer.

6. The membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second recess is in a ring shape and corresponds to the outer peripheral position of the gas diffusion layer.

7. A membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that: The depth of the second recess is 5 to 20 μm, and the width of the bottom wall of the second recess is 1 to 2 mm.

8. The membrane electrode package structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two frames are a first frame and a second frame distributed up and down, the first depression of the first frame is located on the upper surface, and the first depression of the second frame is located on the lower surface; the proton exchange membrane is coated with a catalytic layer, and the proton exchange membrane is arranged on the lower surface of the first frame.

9. A membrane electrode package structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first frame and the second frame are bonded together by glue coated on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane where the catalyst layer is not coated.

10. A membrane electrode packaging method, characterized in that: Using two first and second frames distributed up and down, the method includes the following steps: (1) A first depression is respectively formed by laser etching on the upper surface of the first frame and the lower surface of the second frame, and a second depression is formed at the bottom of the first depression. The shape and size of the first depression are consistent with the shape and size of the gas diffusion layer, and the second depression is ring-shaped and corresponds to the outer peripheral position of the gas diffusion layer; (2) placing a proton exchange membrane coated with a catalyst layer on the lower surface of the first frame, applying glue on the outer side of the proton exchange membrane where the catalyst layer is not applied, and aligning the first frame and the second frame vertically and bonding them; (3) Apply glue in the second recess of the first frame, apply a layer of glue on the inner wall of the first recess of the first frame, place the gas diffusion layer in the first recess of the first frame, make the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer contact with the glue on the inner wall of the first recess, and the inner wall of the first recess seals the outer periphery of the gas diffusion layer; install the gas diffusion layer in the second frame in the same way; (4) Place the assembled membrane electrode assembly into a tooling and place it in a hot press for high-temperature hot pressing to shape it.

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