Rolling flat plate heat transfer printing device for hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode

Abstract

The utility model discloses a rolling flat plate heat transfer printing device for a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode, which relates to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrodes and sequentially comprises a transfer printing lower substrate, a lower transfer printing buffer layer, a lower transfer printing basement membrane, a proton membrane, an upper transfer printing basement membrane, an upper transfer printing buffer layer and a transfer printing upper substrate from bottom to top. The sides, close to the proton membrane, of the lower-layer transfer printing base membrane and the upper-layer transfer printing base membrane are coated with catalyst layers, and transfer printing breathable layers are arranged between the transfer printing lower substrate and the lower-layer transfer printing buffer layer and between the lower-layer transfer printing buffer layer and the lower-layer transfer printing base membrane correspondingly. Transfer printing breathable layers are arranged between the upper-layer transfer printing base film and the upper-layer transfer printing buffer layer and between the upper-layer transfer printing buffer layer and the transfer printing upper substrate. The inner sides of the transfer printing upper substrate and the transfer printing lower substrate are respectively provided with the transfer printing buffer layer and the two high-porosity transfer printing breathable layers, so that all the layers are completely and tightly attached, and the whole structure is simple, low in manufacturing difficulty and low in cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrodes, in particular to a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device. Background Art

[0002] The statements herein merely provide background art related to the present invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that directly converts the chemical energy of an externally supplied fuel and oxidant into electrical energy (direct current) and generates heat and reaction products at the same time. Hydrogen fuel cells are one of the most common types of fuel cells at present. The membrane electrode (MEA) is the core component of a fuel cell. It is a component composed of an electrolyte membrane and electrodes or catalyst-coated membranes, gas diffusion layers, etc., which are placed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and are combined together through a certain process. The catalytic layer of the CCM (Catalyst Coated Membrane) inside the hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode is the place where the chemical reaction occurs in the fuel cell, and its performance directly determines the performance of the fuel cell system. The current preparation methods of membrane electrodes mainly include spraying, direct coating (also known as CCM method) and transfer method. The CCM method refers to directly coating the catalyst slurry on the proton exchange membrane to form a membrane electrode; the transfer method refers to first coating the slurry on the transfer membrane, drying it, and then transferring the catalyst layer to the proton exchange membrane by hot pressing to form a membrane electrode. Among them, the CCM catalyst layer prepared by the transfer method is closely attached to the proton exchange membrane, has low internal resistance and excellent performance, and the transfer process is simple and efficient. During the preparation of the CCM catalyst layer, the proton exchange membrane does not come into contact with any solvent, which can effectively avoid the swelling problem of the membrane. Therefore, the transfer method is currently often used to prepare fuel cell membrane electrodes.

[0004] However, when using a planar thermal transfer process, during the hot pressing process, the catalyst layer is often subjected to uneven force, and the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane (referred to as proton membrane, i.e., electrolyte membrane) cannot be effectively bonded, resulting in the catalyst layer not being able to be completely peeled off from the transfer substrate. In the prior art, the patent with application number 201780059754.6 proposes a method for preparing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, which coats an electrode slurry on a support to form an electrode layer; during the transfer process, the electrode layers are arranged on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane and heat and pressure are applied to transfer, or the support is removed, and during the transfer process, air pressure is applied to the air pressure plate of the stretchable material to transfer the electrode layer to the electrolyte membrane. This method can effectively bond the catalyst layer to the proton exchange membrane during the transfer process, and apply uniform pressure to the entire area of ​​the electrode, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the product, thereby improving the quality and improving the performance of the fuel cell.

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned transfer method, in order to ensure the close contact between the transfer base film and the air pressure plate (silicon pad or silicone rubber pad, etc.), the lower side of the chamber needs to have air holes and a vacuum pump for providing a vacuum environment. On the other hand, the chamber also needs to have a heater and cooling pipe for gas heating and cooling, and various pressure equipment such as a booster valve and a ventilation solenoid valve that can maintain internal pressure, as well as pressure regulating equipment. The chamber structure is complex, the manufacturing difficulty is great, and the cost is high. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems and defects existing in the prior art, the utility model provides a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device, in which a transfer buffer layer and two high-porosity transfer breathable layers are respectively arranged on the inner sides of the upper and lower transfer substrates, so as to ensure that the catalyst layer is uniformly stressed during the hot pressing process and can effectively discharge the gas between the layers to ensure that the layers are fully fitted; in addition, the transfer structure is hot-rolled using a hot rolling process to ensure that the layers in the transfer structure can discharge the gas and the layers are tightly fitted to each other, thereby improving the transfer success rate of the catalyst layer; the entire structure is simple, and the membrane electrode is easy to manufacture with low difficulty and low cost.

[0007] In order to achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device comprises, from bottom to top, a transfer lower substrate, a lower transfer buffer layer, a lower transfer base membrane, a proton membrane, an upper transfer base membrane, an upper transfer buffer layer, and a transfer upper substrate. The lower transfer base membrane and the upper transfer base membrane are coated with a catalytic layer on one side close to the proton membrane. A transfer air permeable layer is provided between the transfer lower substrate and the lower transfer buffer layer, and between the lower transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer base membrane. A transfer air permeable layer is provided between the upper transfer base membrane and the upper transfer buffer layer, and between the upper transfer buffer layer and the transfer upper substrate.

[0009] According to a further technical solution, the upper transfer substrate is a rectangular plate, and positioning holes are arranged at the four corners of the upper transfer substrate; the lower transfer substrate is a rectangular plate, and positioning pins are arranged at the four corners of the lower transfer substrate; each positioning hole corresponds to and matches the positioning pin one by one.

[0010] According to a further technical solution, the transfer upper substrate and the transfer lower substrate have the same size and thickness.

[0011] According to a further technical solution, both the transfer upper substrate and the transfer lower substrate are made of metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity, and the metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity include aluminum plates and stainless steel plates.

[0012] According to a further technical solution, the upper transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer buffer layer have the same size and thickness, and the thickness is 0.01 to 5 mm.

[0013] According to a further technical solution, both the upper transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer buffer layer are made of elastic materials, and the elastic materials include silicon and silicon rubber.

[0014] According to a further technical solution, the lower transfer base film and the upper transfer base film have the same size and thickness, and are both sheet films made of any one of PFTE, FEP, PFA, ETFE, PET, PEN, and PI.

[0015] According to a further technical solution, a plurality of air holes are provided in the transfer air permeable layer, and the diameter of the air holes is 2-100 microns.

[0016] A further technical solution is that the size of the transfer upper and lower substrates is larger than the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers, the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is the same as the size of the transfer breathable layer, and the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is greater than or equal to the size of the upper and lower transfer base films.

[0017] According to a further technical solution, the size of the upper and lower transfer substrate membranes is greater than or equal to the size of the proton membrane, and the size of the proton membrane is the same as the size of the catalyst layer.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] The utility model provides a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device, wherein a transfer buffer layer is arranged on the inner side of the transfer upper and lower substrates, so that the transfer pressure at each position is uniform, and a high-porosity transfer air-permeable layer is arranged between the transfer upper and lower substrates and the transfer buffer layer, and between the transfer buffer layer and the transfer base film, so that it can be ensured that the catalyst layer is subjected to uniform force during the hot pressing process, and the gas between the layers is effectively discharged, so that the layers are fully fitted; in addition, the transfer structure is hot-rolled using a hot rolling process, so that the layers in the transfer structure can discharge the gas and the layers are tightly fitted, so as to improve the transfer success rate of the catalyst layer; the entire structure is simple, the membrane electrode is easy to manufacture, and the manufacturing cost is low. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The drawings in the specification, which constitute a part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present invention.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the transfer printing upper substrate and the transfer printing lower substrate in the utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the lower transfer buffer layer in the utility model;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the transfer-printed breathable layer in the utility model;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the upper and lower transfer substrate films coated with the catalytic layer in the utility model;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a proton membrane coated with a catalytic layer in the utility model;

[0027] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the principle of roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer in the utility model.

[0028] Among them, 1. transfer lower substrate; 2. lower transfer buffer layer; 3. lower transfer base membrane; 4. proton membrane; 5. upper transfer base membrane; 6. upper transfer buffer layer; 7. transfer upper substrate; 8. catalytic layer; 9. transfer breathable layer; 10. heating steel roller; 11. positioning hole; 12. positioning pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the present application. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs.

[0030] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0031] like Figure 1As shown, the utility model discloses a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device, which includes, from bottom to top, a transfer lower substrate 1, a lower transfer buffer layer 2, a lower transfer base membrane 3, a proton membrane 4, an upper transfer base membrane 5, an upper transfer buffer layer 6, and a transfer upper substrate 7, wherein the lower transfer base membrane and the upper transfer base membrane are coated with a catalytic layer 8 on one side close to the proton membrane, or the proton exchange membrane (referred to as the proton membrane) and one side of the upper transfer base membrane are each coated with a catalytic layer 8; a transfer air permeable layer 9 is provided between the transfer lower substrate and the lower transfer buffer layer, and between the lower transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer base membrane, and a transfer air permeable layer 9 is provided between the upper transfer base membrane and the upper transfer buffer layer, and between the upper transfer buffer layer and the transfer upper substrate.

[0032] Specifically, the transfer upper substrate 7 and the transfer lower substrate 1 are both rectangular plates. Figure 2 As shown, positioning holes 11 are provided at the four corners of the transfer upper substrate 7, and positioning pins 12 are provided at the four corners of the transfer lower substrate 1. Each positioning hole 11 corresponds to and matches the positioning pin 12, that is, the size of the positioning pin 12 is adapted to the size of the positioning hole 11. In addition, the transfer upper substrate 7 and the transfer lower substrate 1 have the same size and thickness, and are used to clamp the proton exchange membrane, the catalyst layer and other auxiliary materials. Moreover, the transfer upper and lower substrates are both made of metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity, and the metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity include aluminum plates, stainless steel plates, etc.

[0033] The transfer buffer layer (including the upper transfer buffer layer 6 and the lower transfer buffer layer 2) is located between the upper and lower transfer substrates. By setting the transfer buffer layer, the transfer pressure at each position can be made uniform. Figure 3 As shown, the upper transfer buffer layer 6 and the lower transfer buffer layer 2 have the same size and thickness, both of which are 0.01-5 mm, and are both made of elastic materials, such as silicon, silicon rubber, and the like.

[0034] The transfer base film (including the lower transfer base film 3 and the upper transfer base film 5) is located between the upper and lower transfer buffer layers, and the transfer base film can be used to separate the catalyst layer from other materials to prevent the catalyst layer to be transferred from being peeled off. Figure 5 As shown, the lower transfer base membrane 3 and the upper transfer base membrane 5 are coated with a catalytic layer on one side close to the proton membrane 4, and the catalytic layer is closely attached to the proton membrane. As another embodiment, the proton membrane and the upper transfer base membrane are each coated with a catalytic layer 8 on one side, such as Figure 6As shown, a catalytic layer 8 is coated on one side of the proton membrane 4, and the proton membrane 4 can be placed on the upper side of the lower transfer substrate membrane with the side of the proton membrane 4 coated with the catalytic layer 8 facing downward, and then the upper transfer substrate membrane with the catalytic layer 8 coated on the lower side is placed on the upper side of the proton membrane 4. In addition, the lower transfer substrate membrane and the upper transfer substrate membrane have the same size and thickness, and are both sheet films of any one of PFTE, FEP, PFA, ETFE, PET (such as DuPont Teijin), PEN (such as DuPont Teijin), and PI.

[0035] The transfer air permeable layer 9 is located between the transfer lower substrate and the lower transfer buffer layer, between the lower transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer base film, between the upper transfer base film and the upper transfer buffer layer, and between the upper transfer buffer layer and the transfer upper substrate, and is used for exhaust during the flat-plate thermal transfer process. Figure 4 As shown, the transfer air permeable layer 9 is provided with a plurality of air permeable holes, the aperture of which is 2-100 microns, for easy exhaust.

[0036] Furthermore, the size of the upper and lower transfer substrates is larger than the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers, the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is the same as the size of the transfer air permeable layer, the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is larger than or equal to the size of the upper and lower transfer base membranes, the size of the upper and lower transfer base membranes is larger than or equal to the size of the proton membrane, and the size of the proton membrane is the same as the size of the catalyst layer. Through this design, the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane can achieve good contact and complete fit, improving the transfer success rate and efficiency.

[0037] Considering that good contact between the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane is the main factor affecting the thermal transfer rate of the membrane electrode plate, in the device proposed by the utility model, the transfer buffer layer (i.e., the transfer elastic pad) is an elastic member that can compensate for the unevenness of the transfer substrate; the transfer air permeable layer (transfer air permeable paper) has a certain amount of pores, which can exclude the air between the transfer elastic pad and the transfer base membrane and the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane as much as possible, so that the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane can be completely fitted, thereby effectively improving the membrane electrode transfer rate. In addition, the use of a roller pressing process can further ensure that each layer in the transfer structure can discharge gas and fit tightly, thereby improving the transfer success rate of the catalyst layer.

[0038] The specific working process of the utility model is as follows Figure 7 As shown,

[0039] First, transfer the upper and lower substrates, the upper and lower transfer buffer layers, and the upper and lower transfer base films with catalyst layers according to Figure 1 The structure shown is combined into a flat-plate thermal transfer device, specifically:

[0040] Stainless steel plates were used as the upper and lower transfer substrates, and all transfer breathable papers, transfer elastic pads (thickness 20 μm) and transfer base films (PTFE) were cut into the same size: 20 × 10 cm 2 , the upper and lower catalyst layers and proton exchange membrane are cut to the same size: 18×8cm 2 ;

[0041] The first transfer breathable paper is placed on the upper side of the transfer lower substrate, the transfer elastic pad is placed on the upper side of the first transfer breathable paper, the second transfer breathable paper is placed on the upper side of the transfer elastic pad, and the upper transfer base film is placed on the upper side of the second transfer breathable paper;

[0042] Placing a proton membrane coated with a catalytic layer on one side on the upper side of a lower transfer-printed base membrane, and stacking an upper transfer-printed base membrane coated with a catalytic layer on one side on the upper side of a proton exchange membrane, with the catalytic layers coated on the proton membrane and the upper transfer-printed base membrane facing downward;

[0043] Placing the third transfer breathable paper on the upper side of the upper transfer base film, placing the transfer elastic pad on the upper side of the third transfer breathable paper, and placing the fourth transfer breathable paper on the upper side of the transfer elastic pad;

[0044] The transfer upper substrate is placed on the upper side of the fourth transfer air-permeable paper, and the positioning holes on the transfer upper substrate are positioned and penetrated into the positioning pins of the transfer lower substrate;

[0045] Secondly, the transfer device is hot-rolled by using a heated steel roller 10 according to the set temperature, pressure and time, and the rolling pressure is 1000 kg;

[0046] Finally, the transfer device is cooled and disassembled, and the upper and lower transfer base membranes are peeled off to obtain the membrane electrode, that is, a CCM product with catalytic layers on both sides of the proton membrane.

[0047] During the thermal transfer process of the membrane electrode plate, air is often not completely exhausted between the gel component and the transfer substrate, and between the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane, resulting in gaps. In addition, the transfer substrate is not perfectly flat, so the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane cannot achieve good and complete contact, resulting in the failure of transfer of some catalyst layers. To this end, the utility model proposes a hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device, wherein a layer of transfer elastic pad (i.e., transfer buffer layer) is arranged on the inner side of the upper and lower transfer substrates to compensate for the unevenness of the transfer substrate; a layer of transfer breathable paper (i.e., transfer breathable layer) with a certain porosity is arranged on and below the transfer elastic pad to exclude the air between the transfer elastic pad and the transfer base membrane and between the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane as much as possible, so that the catalyst layer and the proton exchange membrane can be perfectly fitted and the transfer pressure and transfer temperature on the membrane electrode can be uniform, thereby effectively improving the thermal transfer rate of the membrane electrode; finally, the use of a roller pressing process can further ensure that each layer in the transfer structure can discharge the gas and fit tightly, thereby improving the transfer success rate of the catalyst layer.

[0048] Although the above describes the specific implementation methods of the utility model in combination with the accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the utility model. Technical personnel in the relevant field should understand that on the basis of the technical solution of the utility model, various modifications or deformations that can be made by technical personnel in this field without creative work are still within the scope of protection of the utility model.

Claims

1. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller flat plate thermal transfer device, characterized in that: From bottom to top, it includes a transfer lower substrate, a lower transfer buffer layer, a lower transfer base membrane, a proton membrane, an upper transfer base membrane, an upper transfer buffer layer, and a transfer upper substrate. The lower transfer base membrane and the upper transfer base membrane are coated with a catalytic layer on one side close to the proton membrane. A transfer breathable layer is provided between the transfer lower substrate and the lower transfer buffer layer, and between the lower transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer base membrane. A transfer breathable layer is provided between the upper transfer base membrane and the upper transfer buffer layer, and between the upper transfer buffer layer and the transfer upper substrate.

2. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The transfer upper substrate is a rectangular plate, and a plurality of positioning holes are arranged at the four corners of the transfer upper substrate; the transfer lower substrate is a rectangular plate, and a plurality of positioning pins are arranged at the four corners of the transfer lower substrate; each positioning hole corresponds to and matches a positioning pin one by one.

3. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The transfer upper substrate and the transfer lower substrate have the same size and thickness.

4. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The transfer upper substrate and the transfer lower substrate are both made of metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity, and the metal plates with high hardness and high thermal conductivity include aluminum plates and stainless steel plates.

5. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer buffer layer have the same size and thickness, and the thickness is 0.01-5 mm.

6. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The upper transfer buffer layer and the lower transfer buffer layer are both made of elastic materials, and the elastic materials include silicon and silicon rubber.

7. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The lower transfer base film and the upper transfer base film have the same size and thickness, and are both sheets or films made of any one of PFTE, FEP, PFA, ETFE, PET, PEN, and PI.

8. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The transfer air-permeable layer is provided with a plurality of air-permeable holes, and the pore diameter of the air-permeable holes is 2-100 microns.

9. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The size of the transfer upper and lower substrates is larger than that of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers, the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is the same as that of the transfer breathable layer, and the size of the upper and lower transfer buffer layers is larger than or equal to that of the upper and lower transfer base films.

10. A hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrode roller-pressed flat-plate thermal transfer device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that: The size of the upper and lower transfer substrate membranes is greater than or equal to the size of the proton membrane, and the size of the proton membrane is the same as the size of the catalytic layer.

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