There is provided a method of wetting a low surface energy substrate with a high surface tension liquid comprising at least the steps of providing a low surface energy substrate having a surface energy in the range of from 15 to 45 mN/m, a high surface tension liquid having a surface tension in the range of from greater than 25 to 70 mN/m and a low surface tension fluid having a surface tension in the range of from 10 to 25 mN/m; contacting the low surface energy substrate with the high surface tension liquid; contacting at least one of the low surface energy substrate and the high surface tension liquid with the low surface tension fluid vapour, either before, at the same time as or after the contacting of the low surface energy substrate with the high surface tension liquid; and removing the low surface tension fluid vapour from the low surface energy substrate. The high surface tension liquid can be used as a carrier liquid for a coating material, such as an ion exchange material, to be deposited on the substrate, such as ePTFE, in a method of coating. Also disclosed is a system for such coating methods.

There is provided a method of wetting a low surface energy substrate with a high surface tension liquid comprising at least the steps of providing a low surface energy substrate having a surface energy in the range of from 15 to 45 mN/m, a high surface tension liquid having a surface tension in the range of from greater than 25 to 70 mN/m and a low surface tension fluid having a surface tension in the range of from 10 to 25 mN/m; contacting the low surface energy substrate with the high surface tension liquid; contacting at least one of the low surface energy substrate and the high surface tension liquid with the low surface tension fluid vapour, either before, at the same time as or after the contacting of the low surface energy substrate with the high surface tension liquid; and removing the low surface tension fluid vapour from the low surface energy substrate. The high surface tension liquid can be used as a carrier liquid for a coating material, such as an ion exchange material, to be deposited on the substrate, such as ePTFE, in a method of coating. Also disclosed is a system for such coating methods.

Disclosed are: a polymer electrolyte membrane which can prevent ionic conductor loss even upon the occurrence of chemical degradation in the ionic conductor according to long term use and thus can be significantly improved in chemical durability; a manufacturing method therefor; and an electrochemical device comprising same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present disclosure comprises a polymer electrolyte material. The polymer electrolyte material comprises an ionic conductor and a crosslinker unbound to the ionic conductor. The crosslinker has at least one cross-linkable functional group which can couple with the ionic conductor that has been degraded, thereby causing crosslinking with the ionic conductor.

Disclosed are: a polymer electrolyte membrane which can prevent ionic conductor loss even upon the occurrence of chemical degradation in the ionic conductor according to long term use and thus can be significantly improved in chemical durability; a manufacturing method therefor; and an electrochemical device comprising same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present disclosure comprises a polymer electrolyte material. The polymer electrolyte material comprises an ionic conductor and a crosslinker unbound to the ionic conductor. The crosslinker has at least one cross-linkable functional group which can couple with the ionic conductor that has been degraded, thereby causing crosslinking with the ionic conductor.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 μm or less.

A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 μm or less.