MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED HYDROPHOBICITY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• Main Authors: HER, EUN KYU, HONG, BO KI, MOON, MYOUNG WOON, KIM, SAE HOON, OH, KYU HWAN, LEE, KWANG RYEOL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Korean
• Published: 08.01.2014
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT THEREOF; NANOSTRUCTURES FORMED BY MANIPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL ATOMS,MOLECULES, OR LIMITED COLLECTIONS OF ATOMS OR MOLECULES ASDISCRETE UNITS; NANOTECHNOLOGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TRANSPORTING

The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly with an enhanced hydrophobicity by maximizing the surface area by forming a nanopattern with a high aspect ratio on the catalytic carrier on the surface of a catalyst layer in order to supply ultra hydrophobicity to the surface of the catalyst layer, and by coating a hydrophobic thin film on the surface, and a manufacturing method thereof. The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a polymer electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, which comprises a step of forming a nanopattern with a high aspect ratio by plasma-etching the catalyst carrier on the surface of a catalyst layer forming MEA; and a step of forming a hydrophobic thin film on the nanopattern formed on the catalyst carrier. [Reference numerals] (AA) Ultra hydrophobicity surface treatment (plasma etching + hydrophobic thin film coating); (BB) Catalyst layer; (CC,GG) Catalyst carrier; (DD) Catalyst; (EE,HH) Polymer electrolyte membrane; (FF) Hydrophobic thin film