Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell membrane handling device comprising a first membrane storage station (A1) and a receiving station (C) as well as a first manipulator (B1) comprising means (68) for gripping a membrane (12) from a free face thereof, the first manipulator (B1) being articulated so as to be capable of moving between a position for taking a membrane (12) from the storage station (A1) and a position for placing a membrane (12) in the receiving station (C). According to the invention, the receiving station (C) comprises a tray for receiving a membrane (12) comprising at least one opening (C2) wherein the gripping means (68) and a portion of the manipulator are capable of fitting into a first position for placing a membrane (12) wherein the membrane (12) is received on the receiving tray (C1).

Abstract: Proton-conducting, fluorinated polymer grafted particles for use in the preparation of catalytic layers for fuel cells, such as H2/air cells or H2/O2 cells. The grafted particles include a particle made of a material for catalyzing oxygen reduction or hydrogen oxidation, such as a platinum particle, that has been grafted with a proton-conducting, fluorinated polymer graft. The proton-conducting, fluorinated polymer graft includes an organic spacer group, a single bond or an organic spacer group, a repeating unit resulting from polymerization of a fluorinated styrenic monomer, and a repeating unit resulting, from polymerization of a non-fluorinated styrenic monomer bearing at least one proton-conducting group.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation (1) for assembling fuel cell membranes comprising: a first station (A1) for storing electrode membranes, a second station (A2) for storing reinforcing membranes, a station for stacking the membranes of the first (A1) and second (A2) storage stations, and a station (P) for pressing and heating a membrane assembly, means for conveying and handling (B1, B2) the membranes of the first (A1) and second (A2) storage stations, stacking of the stacking station and membrane assembly of the pressing and heating station.

Abstract: The invention relates to inorganic particles which are covalently bonded to first polymer chains made up of at least one polymer carrying proton exchange groups, optionally in the form of salts, and bonded to second polymer chains made up of at least one fluorinated polymer that does not carry any proton exchange groups, the second chains being bonded to the particles via organic spacer groups, or the second chains being bonded to first chains via organic spacer groups, or some of the second chains being bonded to the particles via organic spacer groups while the remaining second chains are bonded to first chains via organic spacer groups.

Abstract: Silica particles bonded to polymer chains consisting of at least one polymer comprising at least one fluorinated styrene repeating unit comprising at least one proton-conducting group, optionally in the form of a salt, the bonding between the particles and each of the chains being carried out by an organic spacer group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell membrane handling device comprising a first membrane storage station (A1) and a receiving station (C) as well as a first manipulator (B1) comprising means (68) for gripping a membrane (12) from a free face thereof, the first manipulator (B1) being articulated so as to be capable of moving between a position for taking a membrane (12) from the storage station (A1) and a position for placing a membrane (12) in the receiving station (C). According to the invention, the receiving station (C) comprises a tray for receiving a membrane (12) comprising at least one opening (C2) wherein the gripping means (68) and a portion of the manipulator are capable of fitting into a first position for placing a membrane (12) wherein the membrane (12) is received on the receiving tray (C1).

Abstract: A method for preparing particles comprising a material suitable for catalysing oxygen reduction or hydrogen oxidation, the particles being grafted by grafts consisting of at least one specific polymer comprising at least one repeating styrene unit bearing at least one proton-conducting group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprising the following steps: providing a first reinforcing membrane (14) comprising an opening (14a), a first electrode (12), a second reinforcing membrane (18) comprising an opening (18a), a second electrode (20), and a polymer electrolyte membrane (16), and arranging the first (14) and second (18) reinforcing membranes, the first (12) and second (20) electrodes and the polymer electrolyte membrane (16) so as to obtain a successive stack of the first electrode (12), the first reinforcing membrane (14), the polymer electrolyte membrane (16), the second reinforcing membrane (18) and the second electrode (20).

Abstract: A specific method for preparing platinum particles grafted with proton-conducting polymers and use of these particles as catalysts for oxygen reduction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation (1) for assembling fuel cell membranes comprising: a first station (A1) for storing electrode membranes, a second station (A2) for storing reinforcing membranes, a station for stacking the membranes of the first (A1) and second (A2) storage stations, and a station (P) for pressing and heating a membrane assembly, means for conveying and handling (B1, B2) the membranes of the first (A1) and second (A2) storage stations, stacking of the stacking station and membrane assembly of the pressing and heating station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte membrane/fuel cell electrode assembly consisting in assembling a reinforcing membrane with a polymer electrolyte membrane at a temperature higher than a subsequent handling temperature of said assembly thus formed.

Abstract: Silica particles bonded to polymer chains consisting of at least one polymer comprising at least one fluorinated styrene repeating unit comprising at least one proton-conducting group, optionally in the form of a salt, the bonding between the particles and each of the chains being carried out by an organic spacer group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for handling membranes for fuel cells comprising a membrane storage station (A2) and means for conveying and handling a membrane from the storage station (A2) to a receiving station, characterized in that the conveying and handling means comprise suction gripping means and in that the membrane storage station (A2) comprises a membrane stack magazine which is guided to move in a given direction on a stationary frame carrying means for damping and returning the magazine (A2) to a predetermined position in the absence of a supporting force exerted on the magazine (A2) in said direction by the suction gripping means.

Abstract: The invention relates to inorganic particles which are covalently bonded to first polymer chains made up of at least one polymer carrying proton exchange groups, optionally in the form of salts, and bonded to second polymer chains made up of at least one fluorinated polymer that does not carry any proton exchange groups, the second chains being bonded to the particles via organic spacer groups, or the second chains being bonded to first chains via organic spacer groups, or some of the second chains being bonded to the particles via organic spacer groups while the remaining second chains are bonded to first chains via organic spacer groups.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite bipolar plate from a composition including at least one lamellar graphite and at least one thermoplastic polymer. This method includes dry sieving of the composition with a sieve for which the mesh diameter is less than or equal to 1,000 ?m, dry blending of the sieved composition, deposition of the blended composition in a mold, this mold preferably being pre-heated, molding by thermocompression of the blended composition with induction heating of the mold, and removal from the mold of the thermocompressed composition leading to the obtaining of the composite bipolar plate. A composite bipolar plate manufactured by this method, to the use of this composite bipolar plate as well as to a fuel cell including such a composite bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method for preparing particles comprising a material suitable for catalysing oxygen reduction or hydrogen oxidation, the particles being grafted with grafts consisting of at least one specific polymer comprising at least one repeating fluorinated styrene unit bearing at least one proton-conducting group.

Abstract: A specific method for preparing platinum particles grafted with proton-conducting polymers and use of these particles as catalysts for oxygen reduction.

Abstract: A method for preparing particles comprising a material suitable for catalysing oxygen reduction or hydrogen oxidation, the particles being grafted by grafts consisting of at least one specific polymer comprising at least one repeating styrene unit bearing at least one proton-conducting group.

Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers comprising: at least one recurrent unit of the following formula (I): at least one recurrent unit of the following formula (II): and at least one recurrent unit of the following formula (III): wherein: R1 and R2 represent, independently of each other, an alkylene group; Z1 is a group of formula —PO3R3R4, R3 and R4 representing, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a cation; Z2 is a group of formula —SO2R5, R5 representing an alkyl group or an aryl group; X and Y represent, independently of each other, a halogen atom or a perfluorocarbon group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the functioning of a fuel cell comprising at least one membrane, comprising the following steps: putting at least two conductive means in contact with two different surface elements of the same first conductive plate, said plate being able to be a distribution plate belonging to a first cell, measurement of one or more electrical voltages between said conductive means electrically connected to an electrical-voltage measurement device.