Fabrication of electrode-membrane assemblies containing heat-stable polymers for fuel cells

Abstract

Electrode-membrane-electrode (EME) assemblies for fuel cells are prepd. by (1) pouring a heat-stable polymer onto a support to obtain a heat-stable polymer soln. film, (2) partly drying the polymer film by evapg. the solvent from the soln., (3) depositing an electrode on the surface of the polymer film during the drying process before it is completely dry, (4) completely drying the assembly, (5) sepg. the assembly of the membrane and the electrode from the substrate. In step (3), the active surface of the electrode faces the surface of the polymer film. The heat-stable polymers are selected from sulfonated polyimides, polyether-polysulfones, polystyrene, polyether-polyketones, polybenzoxazoles, polybenzimidazoles, and poly-p-phenylene