Patent ID: 7981825
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of regenerating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, comprising: contacting a reducing agent comprising a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, or a reducing plasma with a cathode catalyst of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell to reduce the cathode catalyst, the mixture comprising about 5 wt. % of hydrogen or more and about 95 wt. % of hydrogen or less and about 5 wt. % of nitrogen or more and about 95 wt. % of nitrogen or less, and the reducing plasma comprising at least one reducing gas species selected from a group consisting of a hydrogen containing plasma, a helium containing plasma, a neon containing plasma, an argon containing plasma, a nitrogen containing plasma, ammonia, amines, imines, and C1-C4 hydrocarbons, wherein the reducing agent is contacted with the cathode catalyst at a temperature of about −30 degrees Celsius or more and about 80 degrees Celsius or less and for about 1 second or more and about 1 hour or less.