US 12,237,515 B2
Fuel cell metallic gas diffusion layer
Phalgun Madhusudan, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,652.
Prior Publication US 2023/0127900 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 4/86 (2006.01); H01M 4/88 (2006.01); H01M 4/92 (2006.01); H01M 8/0232 (2016.01); H01M 8/0245 (2016.01); H01M 8/0258 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01); H01M 8/1004 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 4/8621 (2013.01) [H01M 4/8657 (2013.01); H01M 4/8668 (2013.01); H01M 4/8828 (2013.01); H01M 4/8882 (2013.01); H01M 4/8896 (2013.01); H01M 4/926 (2013.01); H01M 8/0232 (2013.01); H01M 8/0245 (2013.01); H01M 8/0258 (2013.01); H01M 8/1004 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an electrolyte membrane layer;
a first electrode catalyst layer positioned to a first side of the electrolyte membrane layer;
a first metallic gas diffusion layer positioned to the first side of the electrolyte membrane layer such that the first electrode catalyst layer is positioned between the first metallic gas diffusion layer and the electrolyte membrane layer, wherein the first metallic gas diffusion layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a first coating of porous material disposed on a first surface of the metal-containing layer of the first metallic gas diffusion layer, the first surface of the metal-containing layer of the first metallic gas diffusion layer facing the first electrode catalyst layer, wherein the metal-containing layer of the first gas diffusion layer comprises a non-woven metal fabric, wherein:
diameters of pores of the metal-containing layer are in a range of 1 micrometers (μm) to 100 μm;
the first coating of porous material has an areal density of 4 milligrams to square centimeters (mg/cm2) to 7 mg/cm2;
diameters of pores of the first coating of porous material are 2 nanometers (nm) or less; and
a thickness of the first coating of porous material disposed on the first surface of the metal-containing layer is 2 μm to 10 μm;
a second electrode catalyst layer positioned to a second side of the electrolyte membrane layer;
a second metallic gas diffusion layer positioned to the second side of the electrolyte membrane layer such that the second electrode catalyst layer is positioned between the second metallic gas diffusion layer and the electrolyte membrane layer, wherein the second metallic gas diffusion layer comprises a metal-containing layer and a first coating of porous material disposed on a first surface of the metal-containing layer of the second metallic gas diffusion layer, the first surface of the metal-containing layer of the second metallic gas diffusion layer facing the second electrode catalyst layer, wherein the metal-containing layer of the second gas diffusion layer comprises a non-woven metal fabric.