US 11,894,589 B2
Systems, methods, and devices for cation-associating fuel cell components
John Slack, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Andrew Baker, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Nikola Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Nikola Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/569,992.
Application 17/569,992 is a continuation of application No. 17/346,674, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,283,097.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,632, filed on Aug. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0131170 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 8/1027 (2016.01); H01M 8/1053 (2016.01); H01M 8/1004 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/1027 (2013.01) [H01M 8/1004 (2013.01); H01M 8/1053 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A membrane electrode assembly, comprising:
a proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer; and
a cation-associating layer comprising a water-insoluble net polymer,
wherein the water-insoluble net polymer comprises a weakly-acidic functional group configured to preferentially associate with contaminant cations,
wherein the proton exchange membrane comprises a first ionomer,
wherein the weakly-acidic functional group comprises phosphonic acid, and
wherein the cation-associating layer is disposed in at least one of a portion of the cathode catalyst layer, a portion of a cathode microporous layer, or between the cathode catalyst layer and the cathode microporous layer.