Patent ID: 6805983
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A procedure for activating a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) of an electrochemical cell operating at substantially ambient conditions, said activation procedure including the steps of:a) providing an electrochemical cell designed for operation at an ambient temperature and at substantially atmospheric pressure, said electrochemical cell comprising an MEA having a three-dimensional catalyst layer comprising a plurality of catalyst sites, a plurality of said catalyst sites being dead catalyst sites; b) prior to operating said electrochemical cell, activating said electrochemical cell by exposing the MEA to temperatures higher than ambient temperature, and substantially simultaneously back-pressurizing gaseous reactants at a pressure above atmospheric pressure so as to activate a portion of said dead catalyst sites; c) after the activation of the electrochemical cell, returning conditions of said electrochemical cell to ambient conditions; and d) operating said electrochemical cell at said ambient temperature and at substantially atmospheric pressure.