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KR-20260064952-A - MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND PREPARING METHOD THEREOF

KR20260064952AKR 20260064952 AKR20260064952 AKR 20260064952AKR-20260064952-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly having excellent electrochemical properties and a membrane electrode assembly, comprising the steps of: oxygenating a metal wool under an aqueous metal ion solution; and arranging the oxygenated metal wool on at least one surface of a polymer membrane such that at least a portion of its fibers penetrates into the polymer membrane.

Inventors

  • 안성훈

Assignees

  • 조선대학교산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241030

Claims (11)

  1. A step of oxygenating the metal wool under an aqueous solution of metal ions; and A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly comprising the step of arranging the oxygen-corroded metal wool on at least one surface of a polymer membrane such that at least a portion of the fibers penetrate into the polymer membrane.
  2. A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the metal wool is iron wool, nickel wool, copper wool, stainless steel wool, cobalt wool, titanium wool, aluminum wool, zinc wool, tin wool, manganese wool, or vanadium wool.
  3. A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the metal ions of the metal ion aqueous solution are nickel, iron, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, ruthenium, chromium, palladium, silver, gold, or platinum ions.
  4. A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the metal ion aqueous solution further comprises an anion selected from the group consisting of SO₄²⁻ , NO₃⁻ , Cl⁻ , CH₃COO⁻ , PO₄³⁻ , F⁻ , BF₄⁻ , C₂O₄²⁻ , and CO₃²⁻ .
  5. A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is performed by pressing a metal wool in contact with a polymer membrane.
  6. A membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer membrane; and a metal addition oxide or metal hydroxide metal wool physically bonded to at least one surface thereof such that at least a portion of the fiber penetrates into the polymer membrane.
  7. A membrane electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the metal wool is iron wool, nickel wool, copper wool, stainless steel wool, cobalt wool, titanium wool, aluminum wool, zinc wool, tin wool, manganese wool, or vanadium wool.
  8. A membrane electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the added metal is nickel, iron, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, ruthenium, chromium, palladium, silver, gold, or platinum.
  9. A membrane electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the metal wool is bonded to each of the two sides of the polymer membrane.
  10. An electrochemical device comprising a membrane electrode assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9.
  11. In claim 10, the electrochemical device is an electrochemical device that is a water electrolysis system, a battery, or a carbon dioxide reduction system.

Description

Membrane electrode assembly and method for preparing the same The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly and a method for manufacturing the same. Electrochemical devices encompass a wide range of applications, including water electrolysis systems, fuel cells, and metal-air batteries, and the need for electrode materials with high efficiency and long-term durability is steadily increasing. In particular, with the rise of the hydrogen economy linked to renewable energy, hydrogen production via water electrolysis has emerged as a critical technological challenge, establishing the development of high-performance electrode materials to support this as a core research area. Conventional commercial electrode materials used in water electrolysis systems primarily consist of metal-based electrodes such as nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), and cobalt (Co), with Raney nickel electrodes being a representative example. However, these conventional electrodes require expensive materials and complex manufacturing processes, posing difficulties in scaling up to large-area electrodes on an industrial scale. Furthermore, there are limitations in maintaining long-term durability and catalytic performance in harsh environments like water electrolysis. In electrochemical devices, electrodes play a critical role in providing electron transfer pathways, facilitating the diffusion of reactants and products, and ensuring the efficient conduction of reactions within the catalyst layer. Accordingly, the development of electrode structures that possess catalytic activity, mass transfer efficiency, and durability is essential. In particular, there is a demand for electrodes that possess mechanical strength and structural stability while being manufactured efficiently for large-area applications. In industrial applications, electrodes must reliably handle high current densities, and their structures must be designed to withstand constant pressure and mechanical stress while ensuring smooth electrochemical reactions. However, current electrode manufacturing methods are complex, time-consuming, and unsuitable for large-scale production. This project (result) is the result of the Local Government-University Cooperation-based Regional Innovation Project conducted in 2024 with funding from the Ministry of Education and support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (Project Management No.: 2021RIS-002). Fig. 1. (a, b) Schematic diagram of the fabrication and 3D MEA assembly process of a wool-like NiFe LDH electrode. (c) Photograph of a 2-meter-long industrial steel wool. (d) A 2-meter-long wool-like NiFe LDH electrode produced after the etching process. (e) NiFe LDH electrode cut into large-area electrodes. (f) MEA assembly of the flexible fiber electrode and the possibility of repeated rolling and unfolding. Fig. 2. (a) FE-SEM image of commercial steel wool. (b) SEM images of SW@A-NiFe fibers immediately after the corrosion process and (c) after electrochemical activation. (d) EELS spectra of SW@A-NiFe and conventional NiFe LDH. (e) XRD of SW@A-NiFe and conventional NiFe LDH, (f) XPS Ni 2p spectrum, (g) Fe 2p spectrum. EDS elemental mapping image of SW@A-NiFe. (h) EDS elemental mapping image of SW@A-NiFe microfibers exposing a partial cross-section. (i) HR-TEM image of Fe-rich NiFe LDH. (j) STEM image of Fe-rich NiFe LDH nanoflowers and elemental mapping images corresponding to Ni, Fe, and O, respectively. Fig. 3. (a) LSV curves showing the HER performance of the catalytic electrode with Fe-rich NiFe LDH formed and the control group. (b) Tafel slope of HER activity calculated from the LSV curve of (a). (c) Reverse polarization analysis performed at 800 mA cm⁻² to evaluate the bi-functional catalytic activity and stability of the SW@A-NiFe electrode. (d) Enlarged graph of the initial cathodic overpotential region of the SW@A-NiFe electrode in (c). (e) LSV curves showing the OER performance of the catalytic electrode with Fe-rich NiFe LDH formed and the control group. (f) Tafel slope of OER activity calculated from the LSV curve of (e). (g) Chronoamperometry curve showing the HER endurance of the SW@A-NiFe electrode at 1,000 mA cm⁻² . (h) Chronoamperometry curve showing the OER endurance of the SW@A-NiFe electrode at 1,000 mA cm⁻² . (i) Droplet contact experiment image comparing the hydrophilicity of the catalyst electrode with Fe-rich NiFe LDH formed. Fig. 4. (a) In-situ Raman spectra observed while exposing SW@C-NiFe to HER overvoltage and OER overvoltage increase conditions immediately after the corrosion process, and (b) In-situ Raman spectra during the second HER overvoltage and OER overvoltage increase after the first OER sweep. Comparative data of IF@C-NiFe and SW@C-NiFe samples, (c) Comparison of calculated Cdl values, and (d) Comparison of water droplet absorption degrees of samples before and after the corrosion and activation processes using a high-speed camera. Fig. 5. (a, b) Cross-sectional SEM images of an MEA f