US 12,444,756 B2
Membrane electrode and frame assembly for fuel cell stacks and method for making
Owen Thomas, Vancouver (CA); Max Cimenti, Vancouver (CA); and Emerson Gallagher, Vancouver (CA)
Assigned to AVL List GmbH, Graz (AT); and AVL Fuel Cell Canada Inc., Burnaby (CA)
Appl. No. 17/792,716
Filed by AVL List GmbH, Graz (AT); and AVL Fuel Cell Canada Inc., Burnaby (CA)
PCT Filed Jan. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/AT2021/060032
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/151135, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. CA 3070363 (CA), filed on Jan. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0048138 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/0284 (2016.01); H01M 8/0273 (2016.01); H01M 8/0286 (2016.01); H01M 8/1004 (2016.01); H01M 8/1018 (2016.01); H01M 8/2465 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0284 (2013.01) [H01M 8/0273 (2013.01); H01M 8/0286 (2013.01); H01M 8/1004 (2013.01); H01M 8/1018 (2013.01); H01M 8/2465 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A membrane electrode and frame assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising:
a catalyst coated membrane assembly comprising an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and a solid polymer membrane electrolyte wherein the anode and cathode catalyst layers are bonded to opposite sides of the solid polymer membrane electrolyte;
an anode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly;
a cathode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the cathode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly;
a frame; and
an adhesive layer that is dimensionally flat;
wherein outer perimeters of the catalyst coated membrane, the cathode gas diffusion layer and the adhesive layer are coterminous;
wherein:
the outer perimeter of the frame extends beyond the outer perimeters of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the gas diffusion layers;
the frame and the adhesive layer are located between the catalyst coated membrane assembly and one of the gas diffusion layers such that the adhesive layer is located adjacent to the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame is located adjacent to the one of the gas diffusion layers;
the outer perimeter of the other of the gas diffusion layers extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly;
the inner perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the inner perimeter of the frame;
the outer perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly,
wherein the adhesive layer bonds the one of the gas diffusion layers to the catalyst coated membrane assembly, bonds the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame, and bonds either:
the other of the gas diffusion layers to the frame, or
an uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame.