A NOVEL PROCESS TO FABRICATE MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES FOR PROTON-EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL-CELLS

A new fabrication method of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for prot on exchange membrane fuel cells is developed by using perfluorosulfony l fluoride copolymer powder and Pt/C catalyst. The perfluorosulfonyl f luoride copolymer powder is pressed into a sheet at 230 degrees C by h ot pressing. The Pt/C catalyst is then coated on to either side of the sheet by screen printing, followed by hot pressing. During this proce ss, due to the melt-fabricable property of the pre-formed sheet, the c oated catalyst layer is embedded into the membrane. The resultant MEA is converted into perfluorosulfonate polymer by hydrolysis of NaOH sol ution. The thermal property of the copolymer powder has been analyzed by DTA-TGA, and the interfacial contact of the catalyst with the membr ane has been also investigated by SEM. The performance characteristics of the MEA have been evaluated in a single cell. (C) 1998 Internation al Association for Hydrogen Energy.