Patent ID: 6180276
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a membrane and electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, comprising the steps of:pre-forming a perfluorosulfonyl fluoride copolymer powder having a particle size distribution of 20-200 .mu.m into a sheet by a hot pressing process at a temperature of 200-250.degree. C.;coating an electrocatalyst ink on either side of the preformed sheet by a screen printing process and drying the coats, said ink consisting essentially of carbon supported platinum, glycerol and water in the absence of perfluorinated sulfonyl fluoride binder;embedding the electrocatalyst coats into the sheet by hot pressing the electrocatalyst-coated sheet; andhydrolyzing the electrocatalyst-embedded sheet to convert the membrane of the sheet from a non-ionized form into a ionized form.