Crown ether containing pem electrode

Abstract

A membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells includes a proton conducting membrane having a first side and a second side. The membrane electrode assembly further includes an anode disposed over the first side of the proton conducting layer and a cathode catalyst layer disposed over the second side of the proton conducting layer. One or both of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer includes a first polymer which has cyclic polyether groups. An ink composition for forming a fuel cell catalyst layer is also provided.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An ink composition for forming fuel cell catalyst layers, the ink composition comprising:
 a first polymer including cyclic polyether groups;   a catalyst composition; and   a solvent system.   
     
     
         13 . The ink composition of  claim 12  wherein the catalyst composition is present in an amount of about 1 weight percent to 10 weight percent of the total weight of the catalyst composition, the catalyst composition includes a supported catalyst dispersed within an ionomer solution. 
     
     
         14 . The ink composition of  claim 12  wherein the supported catalyst is present in an amount from about 5 weight percent to about 40 weight percent of the catalyst composition. 
     
     
         15 . The ink composition of  claim 12  wherein the solvent system is present in an amount from about 20 to 80 weight percent of the total weight of the ink composition. 
     
     
         16 . The ink composition of  claim 12  wherein the first polymer including cyclic polyether groups is a linear oligomer. 
     
     
         17 . The ink composition of  claim 16  wherein the linear polymer has the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       where R 1  is absent or a hydrocarbon group and CPG is a cyclic polyether group. 
     
     
         18 . The ink composition of  claim 17  wherein R 1  is C 1-20  alkyl, C 1-18 polyether, C 6-20  alkylaryl, or C 6-20  aryl. 
     
     
         19 . The ink composition of  claim 18  wherein CPG is selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         20 . The ink composition of  claim 12  wherein the first polymer including cyclic polyether groups is a cyclic oligomer. 
     
     
         21 . The ink composition of  claim 12  further comprising a second polymer having sulfonic acid groups selected from the group consisting of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers, polymers having perfluorocyclobutyl moieties, and combinations thereof.