US 11,984,629 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 Nov. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/052,470.
Application 18/052,470 is a continuation of application No. 17/569,992, filed on Jan. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,894,589.
Application 17/569,992 is a continuation of application No. 17/346,674, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,283,097, issued on Mar. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,632, filed on Aug. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0106972 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/1027 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01); H01M 8/1004 (2016.01); H01M 8/1053 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/1027 (2013.01) [H01M 8/1004 (2013.01); H01M 8/1053 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] 14 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 net polymer having a weakly-acidic functional group configured to preferentially associate with contaminant cations,
wherein the proton exchange membrane comprises a first ionomer, and
wherein at least a portion of the cation-associating layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and an anode-side microporous layer.