US 12,249,721 B2
Additive application of microporous layer onto gas diffusion layer
Ellsworth William Bell, Etobioke (CA); Udit N. Shrivastava, East York (CA); and Arvind V. Harinath, Oakville (CA)
Assigned to HYDROGENICS CORPORATION, Mississauga (CA)
Filed by HYDROGENICS CORPORATION, Mississauga (CA)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/157,664.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/304,986, filed on Jan. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0246201 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 4/86 (2006.01); H01M 4/88 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 4/8626 (2013.01) [H01M 4/8657 (2013.01); H01M 4/8807 (2013.01); H01M 4/8853 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell comprising:
a catalyst layer configured to generate liquid water in response to a reactant being in contact therewith; and
a microporous layer including a first region having a first pore size and a second region disposed adjacent to the first region and having a second pore size, wherein the first pore size is greater than the second pore size and the first region is disposed adjacent the catalyst layer to locate the first region between the catalyst layer and the second region, and
wherein the microporous layer is configured to transfer the liquid water away from the catalyst layer, such that the liquid water from the catalyst layer enters the first region of the microporous layer in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a first capillary pressure of the first region of the microporous layer,
wherein the liquid water enters the second region of the microporous layer in response to a capillary pressure of the liquid water being greater than a second capillary pressure of the second region of the microporous layer, and
wherein the first capillary pressure is different from the second capillary pressure.