The present specification provides a polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly.

The present specification provides a polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly.

A manufacturing method of a proton exchange membrane is provided, which includes the steps as follows. The hydroxyl groups are disposed on the surface of a substrate by a hydrophilic treatment. The hydroxyl groups on the substrate are chemically modified with a coupling agent by a sol-gel process. The substrate is exposed to an amino acid with a phosphonate radical so that the amino acid containing a phosphonate radical can be chemically bonded with the coupling agent. The chemically bonded substrate is immersed in phosphoric acid for absorbing the phosphoric acid. The substrate blended with the phosphoric acid is placed between at least two leak-proof films for the purpose of preventing the leakage of the absorbed phosphoric acid. The proton exchange membrane manufactured by this method enable to retain the phosphoric acid in organic/inorganic complex form and micron/nano complex pore size.

A manufacturing method of a proton exchange membrane is provided, which includes the steps as follows. The hydroxyl groups are disposed on the surface of a substrate by a hydrophilic treatment. The hydroxyl groups on the substrate are chemically modified with a coupling agent by a sol-gel process. The substrate is exposed to an amino acid with a phosphonate radical so that the amino acid containing a phosphonate radical can be chemically bonded with the coupling agent. The chemically bonded substrate is immersed in phosphoric acid for absorbing the phosphoric acid. The substrate blended with the phosphoric acid is placed between at least two leak-proof films for the purpose of preventing the leakage of the absorbed phosphoric acid. The proton exchange membrane manufactured by this method enable to retain the phosphoric acid in organic/inorganic complex form and micron/nano complex pore size.

A catalyst layer, includes: a carrier; metal particles located over the carrier; an underlayer located on the carrier; and an ionomer-based layer located over the underlayer, wherein the underlayer includes a polymer material, and covers at least parts of the metal particles, and the ionomer-based layer includes a proton-conducting resin. A fuel cell electrode includes the catalyst layer, and a fuel cell including the above catalyst layer. A method for producing a catalyst layer, includes: bringing at least one first solution including a polymer material into contact with a metal-particle-supported carrier to form an underlayer; and bringing a second solution including a proton-conducting resin into contact with the metal-particle-supported carrier to coat said metal-particle-supported carrier with the proton-conducting resin.

A catalyst layer, includes: a carrier; metal particles located over the carrier; an underlayer located on the carrier; and an ionomer-based layer located over the underlayer, wherein the underlayer includes a polymer material, and covers at least parts of the metal particles, and the ionomer-based layer includes a proton-conducting resin. A fuel cell electrode includes the catalyst layer, and a fuel cell including the above catalyst layer. A method for producing a catalyst layer, includes: bringing at least one first solution including a polymer material into contact with a metal-particle-supported carrier to form an underlayer; and bringing a second solution including a proton-conducting resin into contact with the metal-particle-supported carrier to coat said metal-particle-supported carrier with the proton-conducting resin.

A method of producing a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte film, including: a process of obtaining a membrane body by forming an electrolyte resin precursor which is a precursor of an electrolyte resin used in the electrolyte film into a film form; and a hydrolysis process of obtaining the electrolyte film by hydrolyzing the membrane body, wherein the hydrolysis process includes a process of passing the membrane body through a first tank in which an alkaline aqueous solution is accommodated and a process of passing the membrane body through second tanks in which an aqueous solution in which a water-soluble hydroxy radical elimination accelerator is dissolved in advance is accommodated after the membrane body is passed through the first tank.

A method of producing a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte film, including: a process of obtaining a membrane body by forming an electrolyte resin precursor which is a precursor of an electrolyte resin used in the electrolyte film into a film form; and a hydrolysis process of obtaining the electrolyte film by hydrolyzing the membrane body, wherein the hydrolysis process includes a process of passing the membrane body through a first tank in which an alkaline aqueous solution is accommodated and a process of passing the membrane body through second tanks in which an aqueous solution in which a water-soluble hydroxy radical elimination accelerator is dissolved in advance is accommodated after the membrane body is passed through the first tank.

A process for manufacturing a reinforced membrane-seal assembly includes: (i) providing a carrier material; (ii) providing a planar reinforcing component having one or more first regions including pores and a second region including pores, the first regions being patches and non-continuous and the second region surrounding the first regions and being continuous; (iii) depositing an ion-conducting component; (iv) drying the ion-conducting component; (v) depositing a seal component; (vi) drying the seal component (vii) removing the carrier material. In embodiments, ion-conducting component fills the pores in the first regions and seal component fills the pores in the second region; steps (ii), (iii) and (v) can be carried out in any order; step (iv) is carried out subsequent to step (iii); step (vi) is carried out subsequent to step (v); and steps (iv) and (vi) are carried out subsequent to step (ii). Also disclosed is an assembly prepared by such process.

A process for manufacturing a reinforced membrane-seal assembly includes: (i) providing a carrier material; (ii) providing a planar reinforcing component having one or more first regions including pores and a second region including pores, the first regions being patches and non-continuous and the second region surrounding the first regions and being continuous; (iii) depositing an ion-conducting component; (iv) drying the ion-conducting component; (v) depositing a seal component; (vi) drying the seal component (vii) removing the carrier material. In embodiments, ion-conducting component fills the pores in the first regions and seal component fills the pores in the second region; steps (ii), (iii) and (v) can be carried out in any order; step (iv) is carried out subsequent to step (iii); step (vi) is carried out subsequent to step (v); and steps (iv) and (vi) are carried out subsequent to step (ii). Also disclosed is an assembly prepared by such process.