Process for manufacturing a catalyst-coated polymer electrolyte membrane

• Main Authors: KUHNHOLD HEIKE, HOHENTHANNER CLAUS-RUPERT, SEIPEL PETER, BARTH BERNHARDT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.04.2007
• Subjects: APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING

The present invention relates to a process for manufacture of a catalyst-coated polymer electrolyte membrane (CCM) for electrochemical devices. The process is characterized in that a polymer electrolyte membrane is used which is supported on its backside to a first supporting foil. After coating of the front side, a second supporting foil is applied to the front side, the first supporting foil is removed and subsequently the second catalyst layer is applied to the back side. In this process, the membrane is in contact with at least one supporting foil during all processing steps. Smooth, wrinkle-free catalyst-coated membranes are obtained in a continuous process with high production speed. The 3-layer catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) are used in electrochemical devices, such as PEM fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), sensors or electrolyzers.