KR-102962353-B1 - METHOD FOR RECYCLING MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR FUEL CELL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR FUEL CELL USING THE SAME

KR102962353B1KR 102962353 B1KR102962353 B1KR 102962353B1KR-102962353-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for recycling a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for recycling a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell using the same, comprising the steps of: collecting a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell; irradiating the membrane electrode assembly with radiation; and recovering a catalyst layer from the membrane electrode assembly irradiated with radiation.

Inventors

이세현
장세근
임윤묵
김병남
윤진문
김희수
임대희

Assignees

성신여자대학교 연구 산학협력단
국민대학교산학협력단
한국원자력연구원

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20240111

Claims (9)

As a method for recycling membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells, A step of collecting membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells; A step of irradiating the above membrane electrode assembly with radiation; and The method includes the step of recovering a catalyst layer from a radiation-irradiated membrane electrode assembly; In the above method, the catalyst layer is physically separated dryly from the carbon support of the membrane electrode assembly by radiation without the use of acid or solvent before the recovery step. Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 1, The step of irradiating with the radiation comprises irradiating for 0.1 to 3 hours at a radiation dose of 1 kGy to 10,000 kGy, and The above radiation is an electron beam of 10 MeV or less, Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 1, The size of the above membrane electrode assembly is 1 cm² or more, and the thickness is 1 μm or more, Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 1, The step of recovering the catalyst layer is, The above membrane electrode assembly is placed in an ethanol-containing solvent and the carbon support and catalyst are dispersed while stirring, and the catalyst and carbon support are recovered separately. The above ethanol-containing solvent is applied in an amount of 1% to 99% by weight relative to the total weight of the membrane electrode assembly. Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 1, In the step of recovering the catalyst layer, the catalyst comprises platinum, a platinum-based alloy, or both. Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 4, The above ethanol-containing solvent is acid-free, Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
In paragraph 1, In the recycling method for the above-mentioned fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the recovery rate of the catalyst is 80% or more, Recycling method for membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.
A step of collecting membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells; A step of irradiating the above membrane electrode assembly with radiation; A step of recovering the catalyst layer from a radiation-irradiated membrane electrode assembly; A step of preparing a catalyst slurry containing the recovered catalyst; and The step of coating the catalyst slurry on a substrate; comprising, Using the recycling method of any one of paragraphs 1 through 7, Method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell.
In paragraph 8, The above description is a gas diffusion layer or membrane, Method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell.

Description

Method for Recycling Membrane Electrode Assembly for Fuel Cell and Method for Manufacturing Membrane Electrode Assembly for Fuel Cell Using the Same The present invention relates to a method for recycling a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to embodiments of the present invention, and a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell using the same. Although platinum (Pt) has inevitably been used in fuel cell systems, platinum catalysts are very expensive despite their excellent reactivity. In other words, if approximately 40 g of platinum is used per hydrogen electric vehicle, a significant amount of platinum is required. Furthermore, global platinum production is about 200 tons per year; even if all of it were used for hydrogen electric vehicles, only 5 million units could be produced. To revitalize the hydrogen economy, it is necessary to address the high price and limited reserves of platinum, which is considered the most effective catalyst for fuel cells and water electrolysis. Recently, with the advent of the upcoming hydrogen economy, interest in the development of platinum recycling technology is growing due to increasing demand for platinum and limitations in production capacity. Although processes for leaching and recovering platinum based on various solvents have been developed, these processes are primarily based on ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer), an analytical method used to determine the content and type of metallic substances, and thus the use of organic solvents or strongly acidic aqueous solutions is unavoidable. Furthermore, when platinum is leached in such an atmosphere, insoluble platinum salts are prone to forming, and a process is required to separate ionic platinum through a permeation process using an additional special membrane. Additionally, external factors are essential, such as processes that apply strong ultrasound or voltage to separate the material in organic solvents or aqueous solutions. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a recycling method for a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the process of a recycling method for a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the TEM analysis results of a catalyst layer recovered in a recycling method for a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the catalyst layer before radiation irradiation (catalyst/carbon-based support; left) and the carbon-based support after radiation irradiation (right). FIGS. 5A and 5B show the TEM analysis results of a catalyst layer recovered in a recycling method for a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Pt nanoparticles separated after radiation irradiation (Fig. 5A) and the elemental analysis results thereof (Fig. 5B). Hereinafter, the recycling method for a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell and the method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the examples and drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples. According to one embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for recycling a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the method for recycling a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell may include the steps of: collecting a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell (110); irradiating a membrane electrode assembly with radiation (120); and recovering a catalyst layer from the irradiated membrane electrode assembly (130). According to one embodiment, the step (110) of collecting membrane electrode assemblies is a step of separating and collecting spent fuel cells and membrane electrode assemblies. The size of the collected membrane electrode assemblies is not limited and can range from laboratory size to commercial size. For example, the width and length of the membrane electrode assemblies may each be 1 cm or more, 5 cm or more, 10 cm or more, or 20 cm or more. Alternatively, the size (i.e., area) of the membrane electrode assemblies may be 1 cm² or more; 25 cm² or more; or 100 cm² or more. For example, the thickness of the membrane electrode assemblies may be 1 μm or more; 10 μm or more; 30 μm or more; 0.1 mm or more; 1 mm or more; 10 mm or more; or 30 mm or more. The number of membrane electrode assemblies is not limited and can be collected in large quantities ranging from tens to thousands. According to one embodiment, the membrane electrode assemblies may be collected from a water elec