Electrolyzed water membrane electrode preparation positioning device
By using a positioning device combining a transparent adsorption plate and a vacuum pump during the membrane electrode preparation process, along with a bottom light source, the problem of catalyst layer misalignment in membrane electrode preparation is solved, thus improving production quality and efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN HYDROGEN ENERGY TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, misalignment of the anode and cathode catalyst layers is prone to occur during the fabrication of membrane electrodes, resulting in a reduction in the effective utilization area of the catalyst layer and a decrease in water electrolysis efficiency.
采用透明吸附板和真空泵结合，通过负压吸附阳极催化层、质子交换膜和阴极催化层，并利用底部光源灯组提供明亮光源，确保催化层精确对位。
提高了膜电极的生产质量，降低了催化层错位不良，确保材料有效利用，提高了电解水效率。
Smart Images
Figure CN224227229U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of water electrolysis, and in particular to a positioning device for preparing water electrolysis membrane electrodes. Background Technology
[0002] PEM water electrolysis for hydrogen production utilizes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen. This technology is highly efficient and environmentally friendly, making it suitable for small-scale distributed hydrogen production. The membrane electrode in PEM water electrolysis serves as the site of the electrochemical reaction for water decomposition into hydrogen and oxygen.
[0003] The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) consists of five parts: two side frames, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode catalyst layer, and a cathode catalyst layer. The PEM is located in the center, and the anode and cathode catalyst layers (both containing expensive precious metals) are coated on both sides of the PEM, called the CCM. The side frames are then encapsulated on both sides of the CCM, called the MEA. The purpose of the side frames is to enhance the mechanical properties of the MEA, support the CCM, improve the MEA's airtightness, and replace part of the PEM, thereby reducing the amount of PEM used and lowering the cost of the MEA.
[0004] When preparing CCM by transfer printing, the first layer is the anode (or cathode) catalyst layer, the second layer is the proton exchange membrane, and the third layer is the cathode (or anode) catalyst layer. The three layers are stacked together in sequence and transferred to form CCM by hot pressing. If the anode and cathode are misaligned, the effective utilization area of the catalyst layer will be reduced, thereby reducing the efficiency of water electrolysis.
[0005] The traditional alignment method involves shining light from top to bottom. Since materials are stacked from bottom to top, the middle layer of material blocks the view of the lower layer, making it easy for misalignment to occur when placing the upper layer of material. Utility Model Content
[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a positioning device for preparing water electrolysis membrane electrodes to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.
[0007] A positioning device for preparing an electrolytic water membrane electrode, the positioning device comprising:
[0008] An adsorption plate, the adsorption plate being made of a transparent material, having adsorption holes on its top, and being configured to adsorb an anode catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane, and a cathode catalyst layer. The anode catalyst layer includes an anode substrate and an anode catalyst layer coated on the anode substrate, and the cathode catalyst layer includes a cathode substrate and a cathode catalyst layer coated on the cathode substrate.
[0009] A vacuum pump, connected to the adsorption plate, is configured to extract gas from the adsorption plate to generate a negative pressure at the adsorption holes, thereby adsorbing the anode catalyst layer, the proton exchange membrane, and the cathode catalyst layer.
[0010] A light source assembly is disposed at the bottom of the adsorption plate, and the light source assembly is configured to provide the light source required for the alignment of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer.
[0011] Optionally, the number of adsorption holes is multiple, and the multiple adsorption holes are arranged at intervals on the adsorption plate.
[0012] Optionally, the light source assembly includes multiple LED beads, which are spaced apart at the bottom of the adsorption plate.
[0013] Optionally, it also includes a suction pipe, one end of which is connected to the adsorption plate and the other end of which is connected to the vacuum pump.
[0014] Optionally, the adsorption plate is an acrylic plate, a polycarbonate plate, a polystyrene plate, a polystyrene plate, or a glass plate.
[0015] Optionally, the thickness of the adsorption plate is 5 to 20 mm.
[0016] Optionally, the size of the anode substrate is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane, the size of the proton exchange membrane is smaller than the size of the cathode substrate, or the size of the cathode substrate is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane, and the size of the proton exchange membrane is smaller than the size of the anode substrate.
[0017] Optionally, the anode substrate and the cathode substrate are made of polyimide or polytetrafluoroethylene.
[0018] Optionally, the thickness of both the anode substrate and the cathode substrate is 50–200 μm.
[0019] This invention provides a positioning device for preparing water electrolysis membrane electrodes. By connecting a transparent adsorption plate to a vacuum pump, a negative pressure is applied to the adsorption plate to smoothly adsorb the anode catalyst layer, proton exchange membrane, and cathode catalyst layer onto the plate. Simultaneously, a light source is installed at the bottom of the adsorption plate, and the light shines upwards through the transparent plate, providing the bright light required for the alignment of the anode and cathode catalyst layers. The light shines from the bottommost layer, making its outline more distinct. When the topmost layer is stacked, its position can be clearly identified, ensuring precise alignment of the anode and cathode catalyst layers. This device significantly reduces misalignment defects between the anode and cathode catalyst layers, ensures effective material utilization, and improves production quality. Attached Figure Description
[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning device for preparing an electrolytic water membrane electrode in one embodiment;
[0022] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of membrane electrode transfer in one embodiment;
[0023] Figure 3 This is a planar schematic diagram of membrane electrode transfer in one embodiment;
[0024] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the membrane electrode encapsulation in one embodiment;
[0025] Figure 5 This is a planar schematic diagram of a membrane electrode package in one embodiment.
[0026] 1. Adsorption plate; 11. Adsorption hole; 2. Vacuum pump; 3. Light source assembly; 31. Lamp bead; 32. Lamp housing; 4. Anode catalyst layer; 41. Anode substrate; 42. Anode catalyst layer; 5. Proton exchange membrane; 6. Cathode catalyst layer; 61. Cathode substrate; 62. Cathode catalyst layer; 7. Evacuation pipe; 8. Bottom frame; 9. Top frame.
[0027] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation
[0028] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.
[0029] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.
[0030] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this utility model is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the term "and / or" throughout the text includes three solutions; taking A and / or B as an example, it includes technical solution A, technical solution B, and a technical solution that simultaneously satisfies A and B. Furthermore, the technical solutions of various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of a person skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.
[0031] refer to Figures 1 to 3 This invention provides a positioning device for preparing an electrolytic water membrane electrode. The device includes an adsorption plate 1, a vacuum pump 2, and a light source assembly 3. The adsorption plate 1 is made of a transparent material, and an adsorption hole 11 is formed at its top. The adsorption plate 1 is configured to adsorb an anode catalyst layer 4, a proton exchange membrane 5, and a cathode catalyst layer 6. The anode catalyst layer 4 includes an anode substrate 41 and an anode catalyst layer 42 coated on the anode substrate 41. The cathode catalyst layer 6 includes a cathode substrate 61 and a cathode catalyst layer 62 coated on the cathode substrate 61. The vacuum pump 2 is connected to the adsorption plate 1 and is configured to extract gas from the adsorption plate 1 to generate a negative pressure at the adsorption hole 11, thereby adsorbing the anode catalyst layer 4, the proton exchange membrane 5, and the cathode catalyst layer 6. The light source assembly 3 is located at the bottom of the adsorption plate 1 and is configured to provide the light source required for the alignment of the anode catalyst layer 42 and the cathode catalyst layer 62.
[0032] This invention provides a positioning device for preparing water electrolysis membrane electrodes. By connecting a transparent adsorption plate 1 and a vacuum pump 2, a negative pressure is provided to the adsorption plate 1 to smoothly adsorb the anode catalyst layer 4, proton exchange membrane 5, and cathode catalyst layer 6 onto the adsorption plate 1. Simultaneously, a light source assembly 3 is installed at the bottom of the adsorption plate 1, and the light shines upwards through the transparent adsorption plate 1, providing the bright light required for the alignment of the anode catalyst layer 42 and the cathode catalyst layer 62. The light shines from the bottommost material, making its outline more distinct. When the topmost material is stacked, the position of the bottommost material can be clearly distinguished, ensuring the precise alignment of the anode catalyst layer 42 and the cathode catalyst layer 62. This device significantly reduces misalignment defects of the anode catalyst layer 42 and the cathode catalyst layer 62, ensuring effective material utilization and improving production quality.
[0033] Specifically, the present invention places the light source group 3 at the bottom of the adsorption plate 1, which shortens the distance between the light and the bottom layer material, allowing the light to directly illuminate the bottom layer material. Compared with the top lighting method in the prior art, this can effectively improve the intensity and clarity of the light illuminating the bottom layer material.
[0034] Specifically, the anode catalyst layer 42 and the cathode catalyst layer 62 have the same dimensions.
[0035] When the bottom layer is the anode catalyst layer 4 and the top layer is the cathode catalyst layer 6, the size of the anode substrate 41 is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane 5, and the size of the proton exchange membrane 5 is smaller than the size of the cathode substrate 61; when the bottom layer is the cathode catalyst layer 6 and the top layer is the anode catalyst layer 4, the size of the cathode substrate 61 is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane 5, and the size of the proton exchange membrane 5 is smaller than the size of the anode substrate 41. This arrangement ensures that the material in the upper layer is adsorbed while the material in the lower layer is pressed and fixed in place.
[0036] In this embodiment, the bottom layer is the anode catalyst layer 4, and the top layer is the cathode catalyst layer 6.
[0037] The anode substrate 41 and cathode substrate 61 are made of polyimide (PI) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The thickness of both the anode substrate 41 and cathode substrate 61 is 50–200 μm. Specifically, the anode catalyst is interstitially coated on the anode substrate 41 to form the anode catalyst layer 42, and the cathode catalyst is interstitially coated on the cathode substrate 61 to form the cathode catalyst layer 62. Compared to a full coating process, interstitial block coating can avoid stress shearing of the anode catalyst layer 4 or cathode catalyst layer 6 on the proton exchange membrane 5 during transfer, thus preventing damage to the proton exchange membrane 5.
[0038] refer to Figures 1-2 The adsorption plate 1 has multiple adsorption pores 11, which are spaced apart on the adsorption plate 1. Specifically, the multiple adsorption pores 11 are evenly distributed in an array, and the interior of the adsorption plate 1 is a hollow structure.
[0039] refer to Figure 1 The light source assembly 3 includes multiple LED beads 31 and a lamp housing 32. The lamp housing 32 is located at the bottom of the adsorption plate 1, and the multiple LED beads 31 are spaced apart inside the lamp housing 32. The LED beads 31 are located on the bottom wall of the lamp housing 32 so that the light emitted by the LED beads 31 illuminates the adsorption plate 1 from bottom to top.
[0040] Specifically, the lamp housing 32 has an internal hollow structure, and the top of the lamp housing 32 is open and connected to the bottom of the adsorption plate 1, so as to avoid the top of the lamp housing 32 affecting the light emitted by the lamp beads 31 from shining onto the adsorption plate 1. Furthermore, multiple lamp beads 31 are evenly distributed in an array.
[0041] The device of the present invention also includes a power supply, which is electrically connected to the vacuum pump 2 and the plurality of lamp beads 31 respectively, to supply power to the vacuum pump 2 and the lamp beads 31.
[0042] refer to Figure 1 The device of the present invention also includes a suction pipe 7, one end of which is connected to the adsorption plate 1 and the other end is connected to a vacuum pump 2. The vacuum pump 2 is connected to the side wall of the adsorption plate 1 through the suction pipe 7, and the vacuum pump 2 extracts the gas inside the adsorption plate 1 through the suction pipe 7.
[0043] refer to Figure 1 The adsorption plate 1 is made of acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or glass. The thickness of the adsorption plate 1 is 5–20 mm.
[0044] refer to Figures 2-5 The present invention also provides a method for preparing and positioning an electrolytic water membrane electrode, comprising the following steps:
[0045] S1. The anode catalyst layer 4 is flatly adsorbed onto the transparent adsorption plate 1.
[0046] S2, the proton exchange membrane 5 is placed on the anode catalyst layer 4 through the bottom light of the adsorption plate 1.
[0047] S3. Position the boundary of the cathode catalyst layer 62 of the cathode catalyst layer 6 by the bottom light of the adsorption plate 1 and the boundary of the bottommost anode catalyst layer 42, and stack the cathode catalyst layer 6 on the proton exchange membrane 5.
[0048] S4. The precisely positioned anode catalyst layer 4, proton exchange membrane 5 and cathode catalyst layer 6 are hot-pressed to form an anode catalyst layer 42 and a cathode catalyst layer 62 that are exactly overlapped and transferred onto the CCM on both sides of the proton exchange membrane 5.
[0049] S5. Flatly attach the bottom frame 8 onto the transparent attachment plate 1.
[0050] S6. Using the bottom light of the adsorption plate 1, position the cathode catalyst layer 62 of the CCM with the inner frame boundary of the lower frame 8, and stack the CCM on the lower frame 8.
[0051] S7. Using the bottom light of the adsorption plate 1, position the inner frame boundary of the upper frame 9 and the boundary of the anode catalyst layer 42 of the CCM, and stack the upper frame 9 on the CCM.
[0052] Specifically, the size of the upper border 9 is greater than the size of the CCM, which is greater than the size of the lower border 8, so that the material on the upper layer is adsorbed while the material on the lower layer is pressed and fixed.
[0053] S8. The precisely positioned lower frame 8, upper frame 9 and CCM are hot-pressed to form an MEA where the inner frame boundary of the upper frame 9 and the boundary of the anode catalyst layer 42 of the CCM, and the boundary of the cathode catalyst layer 62 of the CCM and the inner frame boundary of the lower frame 8 are exactly overlapped, thus obtaining a membrane electrode product with precise alignment of the catalyst layer and the frame.
[0054] The transfer and encapsulation misalignment of the finished membrane electrodes prepared by the preparation method and apparatus in this embodiment were statistically analyzed. 200 membrane electrode assemblies were fabricated, with 100 assemblies illuminated from top to bottom and 100 assemblies illuminated from bottom to top. The test results are shown in the table below:
[0055]
[0056]
[0057] As shown in the table above, the present invention can greatly reduce misalignment defects in membrane electrode transfer and encapsulation by using vacuum adsorption and bottom-up irradiation by a light source, thereby improving production quality.
[0058] Therefore, the present invention, through a method and apparatus for preparing and positioning an electrolytic water membrane electrode, has the following advantages:
[0059] 1. High compatibility, no need to consider the shape of the membrane electrode to make a special device.
[0060] 2. It also takes into account the adsorption and light conditions required for membrane electrode alignment, allowing the components to be prepared in a flat and clear manner.
[0061] 3. High product quality: The membrane electrode product has precise alignment of the catalyst layer and the frame, and the material is fully utilized.
[0062] 4. It has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, is easy to operate, and has a low cost.
[0063] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model and do not limit the patent scope of this utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the inventive concept of this utility model and the contents of this utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A positioning device for preparing an electrolytic water membrane electrode, characterized in that, include: An adsorption plate, the adsorption plate being made of a transparent material, having adsorption holes on its top, and being configured to adsorb an anode catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane, and a cathode catalyst layer. The anode catalyst layer includes an anode substrate and an anode catalyst layer coated on the anode substrate, and the cathode catalyst layer includes a cathode substrate and a cathode catalyst layer coated on the cathode substrate. A vacuum pump, connected to the adsorption plate, is configured to extract gas from the adsorption plate to generate a negative pressure at the adsorption holes, thereby adsorbing the anode catalyst layer, the proton exchange membrane, and the cathode catalyst layer. A light source assembly is disposed at the bottom of the adsorption plate, and the light source assembly is configured to provide the light source required for the alignment of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer.
2. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of adsorption holes is multiple, and the multiple adsorption holes are arranged at intervals on the adsorption plate.
3. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source assembly includes multiple LED beads, which are spaced apart at the bottom of the adsorption plate.
4. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a suction pipe, one end of which is connected to the adsorption plate and the other end of which is connected to the vacuum pump.
5. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption plate is made of acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or glass.
6. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the adsorption plate is 5-20 mm.
7. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size of the anode substrate is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane, the size of the proton exchange membrane is smaller than the size of the cathode substrate, or the size of the cathode substrate is smaller than the size of the proton exchange membrane, and the size of the proton exchange membrane is smaller than the size of the anode substrate.
8. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 7, characterized in that, The anode substrate and the cathode substrate are made of polyimide or polytetrafluoroethylene.
9. The positioning device for preparing and positioning water electrolysis membrane electrodes according to claim 7, characterized in that, The thickness of both the anode substrate and the cathode substrate is 50–200 μm.