Fuel Cell Electrolyte Membrane with Catalyst Protective Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel cell electrolyte membranes suffer from chemical degradation due to hydrogen peroxide radicals, leading to reduced durability, and platinum catalysts are poisoned by perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers, which diminishes their catalytic activity.

Innovation Solution

An electrolyte membrane with a catalytic composite including a hydrogen peroxide-decomposing metal component, such as platinum, is coated with a protective polymer layer to prevent ionomer interaction, enhancing gas permeability and maintaining catalyst activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If platinum catalyst is added to decompose hydrogen peroxide and improve chemical durability, then the chemical durability is improved, but the platinum catalyst is poisoned by perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer binder and loses catalytic activity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical durabilityVSAvoidcatalyst poisoning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective layer is introduced as an intermediary between the platinum catalyst and the perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer binder. This protective layer prevents direct contact and adsorption of sulfonate anions onto the platinum surface, thereby preventing catalyst poisoning while maintaining the platinum's hydrogen peroxide decomposition activity. The protective layer acts as a mediator that allows the catalyst to function without harmful interactions with the binder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A thin protective film is formed on the surface of the platinum catalyst particles. This flexible shell structure physically isolates the catalyst surface from the ionomer binder, preventing adsorption of sulfonate anions. The thin film is sufficiently permeable to allow hydrogen peroxide substrate access while blocking harmful ionomer interactions, thus preserving catalytic activity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer is used as proton conductor and binder, then proton conductivity is achieved, but the ionomer poison the platinum catalyst surface and reduce catalytic activity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproton conductivityVSAvoidcatalyst deactivation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer serves as an intermediary that separates the ionomer from the platinum catalyst. It allows the ionomer to maintain its proton conducting function while preventing the harmful adsorption interaction with the catalyst surface. The protective layer mediates between the necessary presence of ionomer for proton conductivity and the need to protect the catalyst from deactivation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If antioxidants are added to mitigate chemical degradation from hydrogen peroxide radicals, then chemical durability is improved, but the catalyst activity may be reduced due to poisoning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrolyte membrane durabilityVSAvoidcatalyst poisoning

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer acts as a mediator that enables the use of platinum-based antioxidants while preventing the catalyst poisoning that would otherwise occur. It allows the antioxidant catalyst to remain in contact with hydrogen peroxide for decomposition while blocking the harmful interaction with ionomer binder, thus maintaining both durability improvement and catalytic activity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The protective layer effectively prevents poisoning of the catalytic metal component, improving the chemical durability and oxidation resistance of the electrolyte membrane by allowing hydrogen and oxygen gases to reach the catalyst while preventing ionomer interference.

Implementation Method 1

sulfonate anions of perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers, which are used as proton conductors and binders in the electrode, are adsorbed on the surface of platinum, thus reducing the activity of platinum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a catalytic particle including a catalytic metal component having an activity of decomposing hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

Hydrogen and oxygen, which are reaction gases for fuel cells, may cross over through the electrolyte membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 4

enhancing gas permeability and maintaining catalyst activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS11355768B2Electrolyte membrane for fuel cells capable of preventing poisoning of catalyst and method of producing the same

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells that can prevent poisoning of catalysts and a method of producing the same. The electrolyte membrane for fuel cells includes an ion transport layer including an ionomer having proton conductivity, and a catalytic composite dispersed in the ion transport layer, wherein the catalytic composite includes a catalytic particle including a catalytic metal component having an activity of decomposing hydrogen peroxide, and a protective layer formed on at least a part of a surface of the catalytic particle to prevent the ionomer from contacting the catalytic metal component.