Polymeric Material (e.g., Proton Exchange Membrane (pem), Etc.) Patents (Class 429/492)
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Patent number: 11198608Abstract: To provide a metal-based structure or nanoparticles whose homogeneity is not deteriorated and whose sticking formation is easy, and a production method thereof with a high safety. A metal-based structure comprises a hydrogen compound, cluster, or an aggregate thereof, represented by the general formula: MmH. The M is a metal-based atom. The m is an integer of 3 or more and 300 or less. H is a hydrogen atom.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Inventor: Kohei Taguchi
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Patent number: 11189843Abstract: A membrane catalyst layer assembly includes: a PEM; and a pair of catalyst layers disposed on main surfaces of the PEM. One of the pair of catalyst layers contains: mesoporous carbon with an average particle size of 100 nm or more, the mesoporous carbon having mesopores with a mode radius of 1-25 nm and a pore volume of 1.0-3.0 cm3/g; a catalytic metal; a proton-conducting resin; and at least one type of carbon particles with a smaller average particle size than the mesoporous carbon. The one of the pair of catalyst layers has a first surface layer which is adjacent to the PEM and contains the mesoporous carbon, and a second surface layer which is opposite the PEM and contains the mesoporous carbon, a volume percentage of the mesoporous carbon in the second surface layer is lower than a volume percentage of the mesoporous carbon in the first surface layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Takashi Oto
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Patent number: 11180621Abstract: A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: University of South CarolinaInventors: Laura A. Murdock, Fei Huang, Lihui Wang, Brian C. Benicewicz
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Patent number: 11121379Abstract: A method for forming a caged electrocatalyst particles for fuel cell applications include a step of forming modified particles having a porous SiO2 shell on a surface of platinum-containing particles. The modified particles are subjected to acid treatment or electrochemical oxidation to remove a portion of the platinum-containing particle thereby creating caged electrocatalyst particles having a gap between the platinum-containing particles and their SiO2 shell.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Anusorn Kongkanand
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Patent number: 11120950Abstract: The disclosure relates to a self-charging device for energy harvesting and storage. The self-charging device for energy harvesting and storage includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, a solid electrolyte bridging the first electrode and the second electrode, and a water absorbing structure. The water absorbing structure is located on the second electrode, absorbs water from external environment and transmits the absorbed water to the solid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhi-Ling Luo, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
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Patent number: 11114672Abstract: A carbon catalyst, a battery electrode, and a battery, each exhibits excellent catalytic performance. A carbon catalyst contains two kinds of transition metals and has such a carbon structure that an interplanar spacing d002, which is determined from a Bragg angle of one of three diffraction peaks fbroad, fmiddle, and fnarrow obtained by separating a diffraction peak around a diffraction angle (2?) of 26° in an X-ray diffraction pattern of powder X-ray diffraction with a CuK? ray, the one diffraction peak being the diffraction peak fbroad, is 0.374 nm or more.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignees: NISSHINBO HOLDINGS INC., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION GUNMA UNIVERSITYInventors: Yoshikazu Kobayashi, Yuji Kubota, Jun-ichi Ozaki, Takafumi Ishii, Takuya Maie
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Patent number: 11088382Abstract: A fuel cell stack and inspection method, the fuel cell stack including fuel cells disposed in a stack and interconnects disposed between the fuel cells. Each fuel cell includes an electrolyte, an anode disposed on a first side of the electrolyte, a cathode disposed on an opposing second side of an electrolyte, and a witness mark disposed on the first side of the electrolyte. Each interconnect includes first ribs disposed on air side of the interconnect and at least partially defining oxidant channels, and second ribs disposed on an opposing fuel side of the interconnect and at least partially defining fuel channels. The witness mark of each fuel cell is visible from outside of the stack when the cathode directly faces the air side of an adjacent interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Raphael Quiazon, Arne Ballantine
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Patent number: 11005119Abstract: In an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, having nanofiber unwoven cloth buried in an electrolyte resin, the nanofiber unwoven cloth is disposed being exposed only from one face of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes a MEA having an anode electrode disposed on one face of the electrolyte membrane and having a cathode electrode disposed on the other face thereof, and a pair of separators holding the MEA by sandwiching the MEA therebetween. Thereby, the electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the manufacturing method of the electrolyte membrane, and the fuel cell are provided with which the electric power generation property and productivity are improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshiyuki Kojima, Masahiro Mori, Shinya Kikuzumi, Yasuhiro Ueyama, Yasushi Taniguchi
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Patent number: 10998557Abstract: A lamellar structure graphite foil is used as a material for a separator for a fuel cell, and a hydrophobic layer is formed by impregnation on flow-field channels of the graphite foil. Such a separator is manufactured by forming the flow field channel by etching the graphite foil formed with the mask pattern thereon and forming a hydrophobic layer by impregnation. According to such a separator, performance of a fuel cell stack is enhanced and the manufacturing process of a separator is simplified.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Doosan CorporationInventors: Ho-Suk Kim, Byung-Sun Hong, Mee-Nam Shinn
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Patent number: 10941262Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane including an aromatic hydrocarbon polymer ion-exchange membrane formed on the surface of a porous polymer support and a thin hydrophobic coating layer having a nanocracked morphology pattern on the surface of the ion-exchange membrane. The self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention has good thermal/chemical stability, high mechanical strength, high ion-exchange capacity, and good long-term operational stability. Particularly, the self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention is able to self-hydrate even under high-temperature and low-humidity conditions. Due to these advantages, it is expected that the self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention will be commercialized as an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell or a membrane for water treatment.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2017Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang UniversityInventors: Young Moo Lee, Sang Hyun Park, Sun-ju Moon, Hyun Jin Park
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Patent number: 10916783Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a separator for a fuel cell comprising: accumulating fibers obtained by electrospinning a spinning solution in which a polymer and a solvent are mixed to obtain a first support having first pores in a three-dimensional network structure; electrospraying a spraying solution in which a first ion exchange resin and a solvent are mixed to spray droplets of the first ion exchange resin on the first support body; accumulating fibers obtained by electrospinning a spinning solution in which a polymer and a solvent are mixed on the first support to form a second support having second pores in a three-dimensional network structure; and electrospraying a spraying solution in which a second ion exchange resin and a solvent are mixed to spray droplets of the second ion exchange resin on the second support body and fill the second ion exchange resin in the second pores.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: AMOGREENTECH CO., LTD.Inventor: In Yong Seo
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Patent number: 10901458Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a titanium substrate having a textured surface that includes peaks separated by valleys, where the textured surface is characterized as having (i) an Sdq (root mean square gradient) that is greater than 0.2 micrometers, and (ii) a gloss value that is greater than 90 gloss units as measured at 60 degrees by a gloss meter.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: James A. Curran, Sonja R. Postak, Todd S. Mintz
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Patent number: 10882010Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a technique for manufacturing a humidifying membrane including a hydrophobic thin film-coating layer having a nano-sized crack morphology pattern on the surface of an aromatic hydrocarbon-based polymer ion exchange membrane and applying the membrane to a reverse electrodialysis process. The humidifying membrane including a hydrophobic thin film-coating layer having a nano-sized crack morphology pattern on the surface of an aromatic hydrocarbon-based polymer ion exchange membrane, manufactured according to the present disclosure, embodies a low bulk resistance of the ion exchange membrane and significantly improves ion selectivity, thereby overcoming the trade-off relationship between membrane resistance and ion selectivity, and thus may be commercially available as an anion and cation exchange membrane of a reverse electrodialysis device.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang UniversityInventors: Young Moo Lee, Chi Hoon Park, So Young Lee, Doo Sung Hwang, Dongwon Shin, Doo Hee Cho, Kang Hyuck Lee
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Patent number: 10875814Abstract: A core-shell particle with a ceramic core and a hydrogel shell provided on a surface of the ceramic core, wherein the hydrogel shell is formed through polymerizing a monomer comprising a first compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group and a functional group capable of forming hydrogen bonds with water and a second compound having two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups and an inorganic element, a polymer electrolyte membrane including the core-shell particle, a fuel cell or an electrochemical cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a method for preparing a core-shell particle.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Keunhwan Oh, Sunhwa Kim, Hyuk Kim, Sangwoo Lee, Curie Park, Insung Bae
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Patent number: 10873106Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte (100) for lithium batteries can include a solid polymer (110), phyllosilicate nanoparticles (120) distributed in the solid polymer, and a lithium salt (130) distributed in the solid polymer. In one example, the composite solid electrolyte can be used in a solid state lithium battery cell (400) made up of composite solid electrolyte, an anode (420) containing lithium in contact with a first surface of the composite solid electrolyte, and a cathode (430) in contact with a second surface of the composite solid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: Jan D. Miller, Xuming Wang, Yue Lin, Jin Liu
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Patent number: 10784522Abstract: A fuel cell having an anode-cathode stack includes at least one active surface layer formed by a first channel structure with a first and at least one second channel for conducting a first fluid over the at least one active surface layer of the anode-cathode stack. A first distributor structure for distributing the first fluid into the first and the at least one second channel of the channel structure is provided. The first distributor structure is configured with a first surface region assigned to the first channel and with a second surface region assigned to the second channel. The two surface regions are configured with a flow resistance of differing magnitude for the first fluid distributed in the first distributor structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Andreas Buchner, Michael Bauer, Stefan Haase
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Patent number: 10756367Abstract: A fuel cell failure diagnostic apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a water-level sensor that senses a water-level of water generated at an anode side of a fuel cell stack and stored in a water trap and a drain valve for the drain control of the generated water. A drain valve position sensor senses a position of the drain valve. A controller detects a failure situation by performing failure diagnosis based on the sensing information generated from the water-level sensor and the drain valve position sensor, and performs a corresponding control depending upon the failure situation.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Seong-Cheol Jeong, Dae-Jong Kim
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Patent number: 10700366Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, first and second electrodes, and a resin frame member. The resin frame member is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly. The metal separator is stacked on the membrane electrode assembly in a stacking direction and includes a reactant gas channel, a reactant gas manifold, and a flat portion. The resin frame member of the membrane electrode assembly has an outer shape to be disposed further inward than the reactant gas manifold and includes a connection channel portion that is disposed outward from an electrode surface and that connects the reactant gas manifold and the reactant gas channel to each other. The flat portion is provided in contact with the connection channel portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Ishida, Yoshihito Kimura
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Patent number: 10693167Abstract: A membrane thickness evaluation apparatus includes a first voltage application electrode and a second voltage application electrode. A membrane electrode assembly is interposed between the first voltage application electrode and a second voltage application electrode. Alternating current voltage is applied to the membrane electrode assembly to measure the impedance of an electrolyte membrane, and electrostatic capacitance is calculated from the impedance. The electrostatic capacitance is compared with the correlation with the membrane thickness to determine the membrane thickness of the electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Kojima, Hiroaki Kawanishi
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Patent number: 10658692Abstract: Biological material is used to build up biological cathode electrodes (biological cathode) and biological batteries, particularly biological metal air batteries as well as biological flow battery. A biological battery system includes a reaction vessel, a medium, a conductive anode and a biological cathode electrode. The biological cathode has a conductive support layer, a polymeric binding layer disposed between the conductive support layer and a contact layer. The contact layer being configured to be in electrical contact with biological components in the medium or being deposited with biological components. When the reaction vessel is open to an ambient air, the biological components accept electrons from the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Inventor: Pei Zhang
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Patent number: 10651475Abstract: An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus includes: a first roll; a second roll that consolidates a particle aggregate and forms an undried active material film; and a third roll that transcribes the undried active material film on the second roll onto a current collector foil. A circumferential velocity A of the first roll, a circumferential velocity B of the second roll, a conveyance velocity C of the current collector foil, a contact angle ? of the first roll, a contact angle ? of the second roll, and a contact angle ? of the current collector foil satisfy conditions (i) ?????1.6×B/A+40 where ???>0 and B/A?1 and (ii) ?????1.6×C/B+40 where ???>0 and C/B?1.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoya Mesuda
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Patent number: 10644343Abstract: A dummy cell laminated on a fuel cell stack and configured not to perform power generation includes: a common appearance portion having an appearance common with an appearance of a power generation cell used in the fuel cell stack and configured to perform power generation; and a non-common appearance portion having an appearance different from the appearance of the power generation cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Kazumi Sugita, Chisato Kato
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Patent number: 10636575Abstract: An organic polymeric compound called a Furuta or para-Furuta polymer is characterized by polarizability and resistivity has repeating units of a general structural formula: P1 may be acrylate, methacrylate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyaramid, polyester, siloxane, or polyethylene terephthalate. Tail is a resistive substitute. L is a linker group attached to an ionic functional group Q; j, a number of ionic functional groups Q, ranges from 1 to 5; n and m independently range from 3 to about 1000. Q is an ionic liquid ion, zwitterion, or polymeric acid. The number t ranges from 6 to 200,000. B is a counter ion, that can supply an opposite charge to balance a charge of the organic polymeric compound; s is a number of counter ions B. A plasticizer increases mobility of the polymers within the compound.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: CAPACITOR SCIENCES INCORPORATEDInventors: Paul T. Furuta, Pavel I. Lazarev, Barry K. Sharp
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Patent number: 10593959Abstract: The present invention provides a novel and improved metal-air battery in which a lot of catalyst can be disposed in a triple phase boundary, and further, battery properties can be improved. In the metal-air battery according to the present invention, a catalyst layer of an air electrode of a metal-air battery contains a catalyst element and a carbon material, the carbon material comprises two materials of a carbon material A supporting thereon the catalyst element and a carbon material B not supporting the catalyst element, the catalyst layer comprises an agglomerate X containing the catalyst element, the carbon material A and the carbon material B as main components and an agglomerate Y containing the carbon material B as a main component, and the agglomerate X is a continuum and the agglomerate Y is dispersed in the agglomerate X.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichiro Tadokoro, Noriyuki Negi
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Patent number: 10563021Abstract: To provide methods for producing a liquid composition, a coating liquid for a catalyst layer and a membrane electrode assembly, capable of making cracking less likely to occur at the time of forming a solid polymer electrolyte membrane or a catalyst layer. A copolymer having a structural unit represented by —[CF2—CF{(OCF2CFX)mOp(CF2)nSO3H}]— (wherein X: F or CF3, m: 1 to 3, p: 0 or 1, and n: an integer of 1 to 12) and a structural unit derived from tetrafluoroethylene, is dispersed in a medium containing water and a hydrocarbon-type alcohol (but not including a fluorinated solvent) to prepare a dispersion wherein the concentration of the copolymer is from 13 to 26 mass %, and the dispersion and a fluorinated solvent are mixed so that the sum of the concentration of the copolymer and the concentration of the fluorinated solvent becomes to be from 17 to 35 mass %, to prepare a liquid composition.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: AGC Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Watabe, Satoru Hommura, Toshihiro Tanuma
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Patent number: 10500812Abstract: The present invention provides a film for attaching a nanostructured material to a surface of a substrate, comprising: (a) a removable support; (b) an attaching layer for attaching the film to the surface of a substrate; and (c) the material directly coupled to the support and the attaching layer. Methods for making the film, methods for attaching the material to the surface of a substrate are also provided. The present invention further provides a surface having a material attached thereto by means of the attaching layer. Using the methods disclosed herein, a material having a high specific surface area (SSA) and having particular proper ties (e.g. super-hydrophobicity) can be applied to a substrate including a fuel cell, a conductive electrode, a dye sensitized solar cell, a diffuse reflective mirror, eyewear, a window and a vehicle (e.g. car) windscreen, for example to provide a self-cleaning surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: The Australian National UniversityInventors: Antonio Tricoli, David Russell Nisbet
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Patent number: 10486151Abstract: An ion-exchange membrane is disclosed here including ion-permeable layers impregnated with an ion-exchange material and arranged in an order from one face of the membrane to the opposite face of the membrane such that opposing layers in the supporting membrane substrate provide sufficiently identical physical properties to substantially avoid irregular expansion when in a salt solution. The ion-permeable layers including at least one non-woven layer and at least one reinforcing layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John H. Barber, Russell James MacDonald, Yongchang Zheng, Kai Zhang, Yonghong Zhao
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Patent number: 10470301Abstract: Provided are a conductive pattern manufacturing method and a conductive pattern formed substrate, capable of easily achieving a narrow pitch. A metal nanowire layer 12 is formed on the entirety of a part of at least one of the main faces of a substrate 10, pulsed light is irradiated thereto through a mask 14 provided with a light transmission portion 14a formed in a predetermined pattern, and the metal nanowires in the metal nanowire layer 12 at the region having the above predetermined pattern were sintered, to thereby obtain conductivity at the predetermined patterned region. Accordingly, a substrate provided with a conductive pattern having any selected pattern can be produced by simple steps.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.Inventors: Hiroshi Uchida, Kenji Shinozaki, Eri Okazaki, Hideki Ohata, Yasunao Miyamura
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Patent number: 10403917Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes: an ammonia pump including a pump cell that reduces an amount of ammonia in fuel gas; and a fuel cell including a power generation cell that is supplied with oxidant gas and the fuel gas. Each of the pump cell and the power generation cell has: a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; a first separator and a second separator; and a first gas channel and a second gas channel. In each of the pump cell and the power generation cell, the first gas channel and the second gas channel are formed such that an amount of pressure loss in the first gas channel is smaller than an amount of pressure loss in the second gas channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaaki Matsusue
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Patent number: 10374240Abstract: A power generator includes a housing, a chemical hydride fuel block adapted to be removably placed within the housing, an air conduit disposed about the chemical hydride fuel block in the housing. The air conduit includes a fuel cell portion and a water vapor permeable, hydrogen impermeable membrane portion. The housing has an air intake opening to draw air into the housing and through the air conduit to provide oxygen to the fuel cell portion and to carry water vapor generated by the fuel cell portion past the permeable membrane portion such that water vapor passes through the membrane and causes release of hydrogen from the fuel block.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Eickhoff
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Patent number: 10355289Abstract: A plate structure includes a plate having a planar portion defining a datum plane. The plate includes a raised bead seal and a tunnel protruding away from the datum plane. The raised bead seal extends along a centerline laying on the datum plane. The tunnel extends along a path laying on the datum plane. The tunnel intersects the raised bead seal. The path and the centerline intersect to form a first intersection angle and an adjacent second intersection angle on the datum plane. The first intersection angle and the second intersection angle are supplementary angles. The first intersection angle is an acute angle, and the second intersection angle is an obtuse angle. The path and the centerline are arranged to form a specific value of the first intersection angle and the second intersection angle to control a stiffness of the raised bead seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xi Yang, Richard D. Blakeley, Liang Xi, Siguang Xu
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Patent number: 10343145Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses for sorbent recharging are provided. The methods and related apparatuses for recharging can recharge a specific rechargeable layer or module of a sorbent material such as zirconium phosphate in a sorbent cartridge. The methods and apparatuses include a fluid source containing at least one recharging fluid, wherein the fluid source is fluidly connectable to at least one rechargeable sorbent module for use in sorbent dialysis in a fluid flow path. The methods and apparatuses include passing a single solution through the zirconium phosphate for ion exchanges, resulting in zirconium phosphate to maintain a substantially consistent pH in a dialysate used during dialysis.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber, Christopher M. Hobot
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Patent number: 10333157Abstract: The invention includes a reinforced membrane-seal assembly that comprises a reinforcing component, ion-conducting material, and seal material. The reinforcing component comprises a central region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from a first surface to a second surface of the reinforcing component, the central region having a first aperture area density; an inner peripheral border region surrounding the central region, where the inner peripheral border region is devoid of apertures; and an outer peripheral border region comprising a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface of the reinforcing component, the outer peripheral border region having a second aperture area density. The outer peripheral border region surrounds the inner peripheral border region.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells LimitedInventors: Robert Jeffrey Coleman, Julie O'Sullivan, Angus Dickinson
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Patent number: 10297852Abstract: The present specification provides a polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Minkyu Min, Young Sun Park, Hyuk Kim, Seong Ho Choi, Sangwoo Lee, Doyoung Kim
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Patent number: 10276874Abstract: A flow cell battery includes at least one anode compartment and at least one cathode compartment, with a separator membrane disposed between each anode compartment and each cathode compartment. Each anode compartment and cathode compartment includes a bipolar plate, a fluid electrolyte, and at least a carbon nanomaterial on the surface of the bipolar plate, wherein the fluid electrolyte flows around the carbon nanomaterial.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Steven L. Sinsabaugh, Gregory Pensero, Han Liu, Lawrence P. Hetzel
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Patent number: 10270106Abstract: There is provided a terminal plate comprising a plate stacked body including a first metal plate that is electrically conductive and has a current collecting terminal for power collection, and second metal plates that have higher corrosion resistance than the first metal plate and are placed across the first metal plate. A first gasket is mounted to the second metal plate and is provided to surround at least a gas flow hole used for supply of a gas on the second metal plate-side. A second gasket is mounted to the second metal plate and is provided to surround a cooling water flow area which communicates with a cooling water flow hole used for supply of cooling water on the second metal plate-side. The current collecting terminal is protruded from a plate outer circumferential end of the first metal plate in a direction from one flow hole of the gas flow hole and the cooling water flow hole toward the plate outer circumferential end of the first metal plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Riko Company LimitedInventors: Kenji Sato, Hiroki Itakura, Takahiro Aoki
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Patent number: 10218025Abstract: A flow-guiding plate for a fuel cell, including a conductive sheet including a relief: defining alternating flow channels on first and second faces, two flow channels on the first face being separated by walls; defining an access hole at a first end of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a first group of flow channels on the first face; defining an access hole at a second end of each of the flow channels on the second face and of a second group of flow channels on the first face; defining a flow restriction at the second end of each of the flow channels of the first group and at the first end of each of the flow channels of the second group.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventor: Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
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Patent number: 10202395Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions of tricarbazole triazolophane (tricarb) of Formulas (I), (II) and (III): wherein R of Formula (I) is selected from a group consisting of alkyl (for example, C6-C18), alkyl-substituted phenyl derivatives, and substituted glycol derivatives, among others, or a combination thereof, and R, R? and R? of Formulas (II) and (III) are independently selected from a group consisting of alkyl (for example, C6 to C18), alkyl-substituted phenyl derivatives, and substituted glycol derivatives, or a combination thereof. The disclosure presents examples of thin films composed of the same as well as methods of binding anions from the same.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Indiana University Research & Technology CorporationInventors: Amar Flood, Brandon E. Hirsch, Semin Lee, Steven L. Tait, James Dobscha
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Patent number: 10199667Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell has a segmented membrane including a porous support having a surface area, the surface area divided into a first portion and a second portion. An alkaline segment is formed from the first portion of the porous support imbibed with an alkaline ionomer. An acid segment is formed from the second portion of the porous support imbibed with an acid ionomer. The alkaline segment is sized to provide a humidification amount to a feed gas passing through the acid segment.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Rameshwar Yadav
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Patent number: 10164268Abstract: A fuel cell includes a power generating body that includes an electrolyte membrane; a separator provided along the power generating body; a flow path through which a fluid to be supplied to the fuel cell flows; a first seal portion that surrounds the flow path in a surface of the separator, and inhibits the fluid from flowing out of the fuel cell; and an electrolytic corrosion inhibiting portion provided between the flow path and the first seal portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Okabe, Kenji Sato, Takuya Kurihara
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Patent number: 10164266Abstract: A separator to be used in a fuel cell includes a gas flow path including a plurality of gas flow path grooves that allow reactive gas to flow; a gas discharge hole used for discharging the reactive gas from the gas flow path; and an outlet flow path part positioned between the gas discharge hole and the gas flow path and used for flowing the reactive gas discharged from the gas flow path into the gas discharge hole. The plurality of gas flow path grooves includes a coupling flow path part coupled to the outlet flow path part. The coupling flow path part includes tilted gas flow path grooves tilted from a direction of gravitational force. A groove width of the tilted gas flow path groove in the coupling flow path part is set such that a force of a wall surface of the tilted gas flow path groove to retain water by means of a surface tension of the water is larger than a force applied to the water by the gravitational force.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norishige Konno, Daisuke Kanno
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Patent number: 10158125Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by laminating a plurality of cells. Each cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and two separators, which hold the membrane electrode assembly in between. Each separator includes a base member made of a metal material. A first layer is provided on the surface of the base member. The first layer includes a resin film and conductive particles that have greater hardness than the oxide film of the base member. Between the separators that are adjacent to each other, the first layers are in contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Eiichirou Morozumi, Takatoshi Asaoka
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Patent number: 10150113Abstract: A polymer and a method for preparing the same are provided. The polymer includes a first repeat unit and a second repeat unit. In particular, the first repeat unit is and, the second repeat unit is wherein R+ is A? is F?, Cl?, Br?, I?, OH?, HCO3?, HSO4?, SbF6?, BF4?, H2PO4?, H2PO3?, or H2PO2?; X is i and j are independently 0, or an integer from 1 to 4; Y is —O—, —S—, —CH2—, or —NH—; R1 is independently C1-8 alkyl group; and, R2 and R3 are hydrogen, or independently C1-8 alkyl group.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Chiu-Tung Wang, Li-Duan Tsai, Cheng-Hsiu Tsai, Chiu-Hun Su, Ming-Chou Chen
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Patent number: 10113238Abstract: There is provided a gold plate coated stainless material characterized by comprising: a stainless steel sheet formed with a passivation film having a surface of which a Cr/O value is within a range of 0.05 to 0.2 and a Cr/Fe value is within a range of 0.5 to 0.8 when measured by Auger electron spectroscopy analysis; and a gold plated layer formed on the passivation film of the stainless steel sheet. According to the present invention, there can be provided a gold plate coated stainless material which can be improved in the coverage and interfacial adhesion property of the gold plated layer formed on the stainless steel sheet even when reducing the thickness of the gold plated layer, thereby to be excellent in corrosion resistance and conductivity and advantageous in cost.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: TOYO KOHAN CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuaki Mukai, Takahiro Yoshida
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Patent number: 10103387Abstract: A method for producing a fuel cell catalyst layer, which is able to allow an ionomer to sufficiently penetrate to the inside of the fine pores of a support with fine pores. The method is a method for producing a fuel cell catalyst layer in which a catalyst is supported on the support with fine pores and is coated with an ionomer, the method comprising: hydrophilizing a surface of the support by use of nitric acid, and dispersing the support, the catalyst and the ionomer by use of a ball mill after the hydrophilizing, wherein the amount of acidic functional groups per specific surface area of the support is set to 1.79 ?mol/m2 or more in the hydrophilizing.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuya Arai, Takashi Ozaki
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Patent number: 10103398Abstract: A support carbon material able to support a catalyst metal in a highly dispersed state and resistant to the flooding phenomenon and with little voltage drop even at the time of large current power generation under high humidity conditions and a catalyst using the same, specifically, a support carbon material for solid polymer type fuel cell use comprised of a porous carbon material which has a pore volume and a pore area found by the BJH analysis method from a nitrogen adsorption isotherm in an adsorption process of a radius 2 nm to 50 nm pore volume VA of 1 ml/g to 5 ml/g and a radius 2 nm to 50 nm pore area S2-50 of 300 m2/g to 1500 m2/g and a ratio (V5-25/VA) of radius 5 nm to 25 nm pore volume V5-25 (ml/g) to said pore volume VA (ml/g) of 0.4 to 0.7 and a ratio (V2-5/VA) of radius 2 nm to 5 nm pore volume V2-5 (ml/g) to the same of 0.2 to 0.5 and a catalyst using the same.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Furukawa, Takashi Iijima, Masataka Hiyoshi, Katsumasa Matsumoto, Noriyuki Negi, Hiroyuki Hayashida
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Patent number: 10074857Abstract: A titanium or titanium alloy material for a separator of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having high contact conductivity with carbon and high durability, and including an oxide film formed on a titanium or titanium alloy substrate by a stabilization treatment performed after a passivation treatment, and one or more kinds of conductive materials selected from carbide, nitride, carbonitride, and boride of tantalum, titanium, vanadium, zirconium, and chromium, the conductive materials being dispersed in the oxide film and having a major axis diameter of from 1 nm to 100 nm. A contact resistance value with a carbon paper is 20 m?·cm2 or less at a surface pressure of 10 kgf/cm2 before and after an accelerated deterioration test in which the titanium or titanium alloy material is immersed in a sulfuric acid aqueous solution having an adjusted pH of 4 at 80° C. for four days.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Kihira, Yuuichi Yosida, Taku Kagawa, Takumi Nishimoto, Koki Tanaka, Masao Kimura, Kiyonori Tokuno, Kazuhiro Takahashi, Takashi Domoto
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Patent number: 10056638Abstract: A compound including a cation of the following structure is provided (1), wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of polymer residues and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, and R is H or a polymer residue. A membrane including the above cation, and electrochemical devices employing this membrane, are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWAREInventors: Yushan Yan, Bingzi Zhang, Shuang Gu
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Patent number: 10035144Abstract: Multi-acid polymers for use as a fuel cell membrane, for example, have multi-acid monomers that have an imide base and more than two proton conducting groups. The multi-acid polymers are made by reacting a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form with a compound with an acid giving group. One example of a multi-acid polymer is: wherein R is one or more units of a non-SO2F or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Rameshwar Yadav
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Patent number: 9945815Abstract: A method for testing a fuel cell stack includes providing a fluid, such as an ammonia-containing fluid, in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack, detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector, such as an ammonia detector, positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel cell stack that is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack and determining the presence of a defect in the stack based on detecting the presence of the fluid. Further embodiments relate to testing a fuel cell stack using a microphone that detects an audio signal indicative of a stack defect.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: James Wilson, Arne Ballantine, Matthias Gottmann, Tad Armstrong, Martin Perry, David Edmonston, Michael Lesher, Joshua Baime