Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer; a cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer; and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; wherein at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprises a block co-polymer comprising poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide).

Abstract: Methods of making catalyst-coated membranes are provided. Application of a first catalyst ink to first side of a proton-exchange membrane forms a first electrode coating thereon. Removal of a backing from the proton-exchange membrane exposes a second side of the proton-exchange membrane permitting application of a second catalyst ink to the exposed second side of the proton-exchange membrane to form a second electrode coating thereon. The cathode catalyst ink includes a cathode catalyst, a cathode ionomer, and a cathode solvent. The anode catalyst ink includes anode particles dispersed in an inert, fluorinated, and nonpolar solvent. The anode particles include an anode catalyst, a water electrolysis catalyst, and an anode ionomer.

Abstract: Ways of making electrodes and electrodes produced thereby are provided. Dry blending of a powder mixture including a catalyst, an ionomer, and a polyether forms a blended mixture, which can be comminuted to obtain a desired particle size. A slurry of the blended mixture is formed with an aqueous medium and the slurry is coated onto a substrate to form a coated substrate. The coating can be transferred to another substrate or material for use as an electrode and/or the substrate of the coated substrate can form part of a structure, such as a membrane electrode assembly for use in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a first major surface of the polymer electrolyte, the cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a second major surface of the polymer electrolyte; at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprising: a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal; and a second composition comprising a metal oxide; wherein the second composition has been treated with a fluoro-phosphonic acid compound.

Abstract: Catalysts that include a carbon support and a metal, as well as methods of making such catalysts, electrodes including such catalysts, and fuel cells employing such electrodes are provided. The carbon support includes a high surface area porous carbon, a low surface area graphitized carbon, and a low surface area nonporous carbon. The metal includes platinum and/or one or more platinum alloys, where the metal is deposited onto the carbon support. The catalyst can be used in a catalyst ink and can form an electrode along with an ionomer for use in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer; a cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer; and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; wherein at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprises a block co-polymer comprising poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a functionalized metal oxide product configured to be used in an anode catalyst layer of a fuel cell can include forming a catalyst solution, which can include mixing a metal oxide in water. A stock solution can be formed by mixing a fatty acid in water. The stock solution can be added to the catalyst solution to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be removed from the liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be washed and dried, thereby forming the functionalized metal oxide product. The functionalized metal oxide product is configured to improve the cell reversal tolerance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a catalyst for a fuel cell can include provision of a platinum precursor and a carbon material. The platinum precursor and the carbon material can be mixed to form a platinum carbon mixture. The platinum carbon mixture can be heated to form a porous solid. The porous solid can be milled to form a powder. The powder can be reacted with a reducing agent to form the catalyst.

Abstract: A metallic bipolar plate has a main body coated with an overlayer. The overlayer can include a graphite-based compound. The overlayer can also include electrically conductive oxides. The electrically conductive oxides can include a member selected from a list consisting of RuIrOx (Ru rich), IrRuOx (Ir rich), RuOx, NbOx, IrOx, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes a membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, a cathode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir, an anode catalyst layer, and an anode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer cap a cathode potential at lower than 1.5V and an anode potential at lower than 1.0V. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer can include a platinum doped rare earth oxide, such as platinum doped cerium oxide.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes a membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, and an anode catalyst layer. The anode catalyst layer includes a Pt/C catalyst layer that has one or more hydrogen bronzes. The hydrogen bronzes include one or more oxides of niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten. The anode catalyst layer does not include ruthenium.

Abstract: An electrode layer can have an electrically conductive material, a catalyst, an ionomer binder, and a perfluorocarbon compound. The ionomer binder forms hydrophilic regions on the electrically conductive material to support proton and water transport. The perfluorocarbon compound forms hydrophobic regions on the electrically conductive material to support oxygen solubility and transport. The electrode can be used in making a membrane electrode assembly and can be configured as a cathode thereof. Fuel cells and fuel stacks can include such membrane electrode assemblies.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer; a cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer; and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; wherein at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprises a block co-polymer comprising poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide).

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a first major surface of the polymer electrolyte, the cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a second major surface of the polymer electrolyte; at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprising: a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal; and a second composition comprising an iridium-containing metal oxide supported on a cerium oxide support.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a first major surface of the polymer electrolyte, the cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a second major surface of the polymer electrolyte; at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprising: a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal; and a second composition comprising a metal oxide; wherein the second composition has been treated with a fluoro-phosphonic acid compound.

Abstract: A catalytic composition for producing a fuel cell electrode comprises a catalytically active material in particulate form, for example platinum, a carbon nanomaterial which is coated with a first ionomer, as well as a binding agent composition in which the catalytically active material and the coated carbon nanomaterial are present in dispersed form, wherein the binding agent composition comprises a second ionomer and the first and second ionomers are the same or different. The composition is used to produce a catalytic layer of a fuel cell electrode for a fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a first major surface of the polymer electrolyte, the cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a second major surface of the polymer electrolyte; at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprising: a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal; and a second composition comprising a metal oxide; wherein the second composition has been treated with a fluoro-phosphonic acid compound.

Abstract: The high current density performance of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells using certain alloy catalyst compositions can be improved via appropriate treatment of the catalyst composition with a fluoro-phosphonic acid compound. In particular, fuel cells employing carbon supported Pt—Co cathode catalyst compositions with relatively high Co content benefit by treating the catalyst composition with 2-(perfluorohexyl) ethyl phosphonic acid.

Abstract: A metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst for use as a cathode electrocatalyst in fuel cells. The catalyst includes a heteroatomic polymer; a transition metal linked to the heteroatomic polymer by one of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, and a recast ionomer dispersed throughout the heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite. The method includes forming a heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite and loading the transition metal onto the composite. The invention also provides a method of making a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that includes the metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst.

Abstract: A metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst for use as a cathode electrocatalyst in fuel cells. The catalyst includes a heteroatomic polymer; a transition metal linked to the heteroatomic polymer by one of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, and a recast ionomer dispersed throughout the heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite. A membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells is also described.