Abstract: The present invention disclosed herein is directed to nitric acid regeneration fuel cell systems that comprise: an anode; a cathode confronting and spaced apart from the anode; an anolyte flowstream configured to flowingly contact the anode, wherein the anolyte flowstream includes a fuel, preferably methanol, for reacting at the anode; a catholyte flowstream configured to flowingly contact the cathode, wherein the catholyte flowstream includes nitric acid for reacting at the cathode to thereby yield cathode reaction products that include nitric oxide and water in a catholyte effluent flowstream; and a hydrogen peroxide flowstream configured to contact and react hydrogen peroxide with the nitric oxide of the catholyte effluent flowstream at a hydrogen peroxide oxidation zone to thereby yield a regenerated nitric acid flowstream. The regenerated nitric acid flowstream is preferably reused in the catholyte flowstream.

Abstract: Fuels cells, electrode assemblies, and electrodes that comprise silicon and/or sol-gel derived support structures, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell comprises: an anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate; an electrolyte; a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate; wherein the anode and the cathode are parallel to each other and separated by an interstitial region comprising the electrolyte. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to electrode adapted for use with a fuel cell, wherein the electrode comprises a silicon substrate that functions as a current conductor, wherein the silicon substrate has a plurality of pores that define pore surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the pore surfaces have a catalyst thereon, wherein the catalyst is derived from one or more metallic precursors chemisorbed onto at least the pore surfaces.

Abstract: Reactant supply and effluent storage cartridges adapted for use with a closed liquid feed fuel cell system, as well as closed liquid feed fuel cell systems. The cartridge includes at least first and second volumes and comprises: a first reactant reservoir for holding a first reactant, the first reactant reservoir being configured to occupy substantially all of the first volume when filled with the first reactant; a second reactant reservoir for holding a second reactant, the second reactant reservoir being configured to occupy substantially all of the second volume when filled with the second reactant; and an effluent reservoir for holding effluent produced by the fuel cell system, the effluent reservoir being configured to occupy, when filled with the effluent produced by the fuel cell system, a portion of the first volume, a portion of the second volume, or a portion of the first and second volumes. The reactant supply cartridge of may further comprise an electrolyte reservoir for holding an electrolyte.

Abstract: Hydrodynamic transport and flow channel passage structures associated with fuel cell electrode structures and fuel cell electrode stack assemblies, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a novel fluid delivery and removal channel passage structures integrally associated with electrode structures adapted for use within a fuel cell system.

Abstract: Fuels cells, electrode assemblies, and electrodes that comprise silicon and/or sol-gel derived support structures, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell comprises: an anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate; an electrolyte; a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate; wherein the anode and the cathode are parallel to each other and separated by an interstitial region comprising the electrolyte. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to electrode adapted for use with a fuel cell, wherein the electrode comprises a silicon substrate that functions as a current conductor, wherein the silicon substrate has a plurality of pores that define pore surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the pore surfaces have a catalyst thereon, wherein the catalyst is derived from one or more metallic precursors chemisorbed onto at least the pore surfaces.

Abstract: Reactant supply and effluent storage cartridges adapted for use with a closed liquid feed fuel cell system, as well as closed liquid feed fuel cell systems. The cartridge includes at least first and second volumes and comprises: a first reactant reservoir for holding a first reactant, the first reactant reservoir being configured to occupy substantially all of the first volume when filled with the first reactant; a second reactant reservoir for holding a second reactant, the second reactant reservoir being configured to occupy substantially all of the second volume when filled with the second reactant; and an effluent reservoir for holding effluent produced by the fuel cell system, the effluent reservoir being configured to occupy, when filled with the effluent produced by the fuel cell system, a portion of the first volume, a portion of the second volume, or a portion of the first and second volumes. The reactant supply cartridge of may further comprise an electrolyte reservoir for holding an electrolyte.

Abstract: Metallic blocking layers integrally associated with fuel cell electrode structures and fuel cell electrode stack assemblies, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a metallic blocking layer integrally associated with an electrode structure of a fuel cell system such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell system. In this embodiment, the invention may be characterized in that the electrode structure comprises an inorganic (i.e., noncarbonaceous) support substrate having one or more discrete porous regions, wherein the one or more discrete porous regions is defined by an array of acicular pores disposed across the top surface area of the electrode structure such that at least a portion of the blocking layer covers the top surface area and protrudes into the array of acicular pores.

Abstract: Microfluidic fuel cell systems having two or more adjacent and parallel laminar flow streams positioned within an electrode pair assembly are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a liquid fuel/electrolyte mixture and a liquid oxidant/electrolyte mixture are interposed between an anode structure and a cathode structure such that the liquid fuel/electrolyte mixture defines a first laminar flow stream that runs adjacent to the anode structure and the liquid oxidant/electrolyte mixture defines a second laminar flow stream that runs adjacent to the cathode structure. The anode structure may in some embodiments be derived from a first substantially planar substrate that is processed so as to have one or more discrete anodic porous regions, where each region is adapted to flow a first liquid there-through.

Abstract: Fuels cells, electrode assemblies, and electrodes that comprise silicon and/or sol-gel derived support structures, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an electrode assembly adapted for use with a fuel cell comprises: an anode derived from a first planar silicon substrate; an electrolyte; a cathode derived from a second planar silicon substrate; wherein the anode and the cathode are parallel to each other and separated by an interstitial region comprising the electrolyte. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to electrode adapted for use with a fuel cell, wherein the electrode comprises a silicon substrate that functions as a current conductor, wherein the silicon substrate has a plurality of pores that define pore surfaces, wherein at least a portion of the pore surfaces have a catalyst thereon, wherein the catalyst is derived from one or more metallic precursors chemisorbed onto at least the pore surfaces.

Abstract: Metallic blocking layers integrally associated with fuel cell electrode structures and fuel cell electrode stack assemblies, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a metallic blocking layer integrally associated with an electrode structure of a fuel cell system such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell system. In this embodiment, the invention may be characterized in that the electrode structure comprises an inorganic (i.e., noncarbonaceous) support substrate having one or more discrete porous regions, wherein the one or more discrete porous regions is defined by an array of acicular pores disposed across the top surface area of the electrode structure such that at least a portion of the blocking layer covers the top surface area and protrudes into the array of acicular pores.

Abstract: Hydrodynamic transport and flow channel passage structures associated with fuel cell electrode structures and fuel cell electrode stack assemblies, as well as to methods relating thereto, are disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a novel fluid delivery and removal channel passage structures integrally associated with electrode structures adapted for use within a fuel cell system.