Fuel cell anode structures for voltage reversal tolerance

Abstract

An improved fuel cell anode structure comprises a substrate and a first carbon-based component. The first carbon-based component exhibits little or no resistance to corrosion. When said anode structure is incorporated into a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly is tolerant to incidences of cell voltage reversal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a fuel cell anode structure comprising a substrate, a first carbon-based component comprising a first carbon material, and a second carbon component, said second carbon component being substantially more resistant to corrosion during cell reversal at fuel cell operating temperatures than said first carbon-based component, the improvement comprising: 
 said first carbon-based component having substantially no resistance to corrosion during cell reversal at fuel cell operating temperatures and said first carbon material having a BET surface area of at least 35 m 2 g −1 .    
     
     
         2 . The improved anode structure of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is a gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         3 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon-based component is disposed on said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         4 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon-based component is disposed within said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         5 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are mixed and disposed on said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         6 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are mixed and disposed within said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         7 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon based-component and said second carbon component are disposed in separate layers on said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         8 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2  wherein said first carbon based-component and said second carbon component are disposed in separate layers within said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         9 . The improved anode structure of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is a solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         10 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component is disposed on said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         11 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component is disposed within said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         12 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are mixed and disposed on said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         13 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are mixed and disposed within said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         14 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are disposed in separate layers on said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         15 . The improved anode structure of  claim 9  wherein said first carbon-based component and said second carbon component are disposed in separate layers within said solid polymer electrolyte.  
     
     
         16 . The improved anode structure of  claim 1  wherein the second carbon component acts as a support for an electrocatalyst material.  
     
     
         17 . The improved anode structure of  claim 2 , wherein said second carbon component is a carbon fill for said gas diffusion layer.  
     
     
         18 . A membrane electrode assembly comprising the improved anode structure of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane electrode assembly is voltage reversal tolerant.  
     
     
         19 . A fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising the improved anode structure of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . A fuel cell comprising the improved anode structure of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         21 . A method of improving tolerance of a fuel cell to voltage reversal, the method comprising incorporating in said fuel cell the improved anode structure of  claim 1.