Having Electrolyte Matrix Or Barrier Layer Patents (Class 429/529)
  • Patent number: 11949130
    Abstract: An end cell assembly for a fuel cell stack includes an end plate and at least two inactive anode parts disposed adjacent to the end plate. Each inactive anode part comprises a nickel foam anode disposed directly above an anode current collector and a separator sheet disposed 5 above the nickel foam anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chao-Yi Yuh, Lawrence Novacco, Ling Chen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 11245119
    Abstract: A carrier-nanoparticle complex including a carbon carrier, a polymer layer provided on the surface of the carbon carrier and having an amine group and a hydrogen ion exchange group, and metal nanoparticles provided on the polymer layer, a catalyst including the same, an electrochemical battery or a fuel cell including the catalyst, and a method for preparing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Yeon Cho, Kwanghyun Kim, Gyo Hyun Hwang, Sang Hoon Kim, Ran Choi, Wonkyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10873092
    Abstract: A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes contacting an interconnect powder located in a die cavity with iron, the interconnect powder including a chromium and iron, compressing the interconnect powder to form an interconnect having ribs and fuel channels on a first side of the interconnect, such that the iron is disposed on tips of the ribs; and sintering the interconnect, such that the iron forms an contact layer on the tips of the ribs having a higher iron concentration than a remainder of the interconnect. A glass containing cathode contact layer having a glass transition temperature of 900° C. or less may be located over the rib tips on the oxidant side of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sanchit Khurana, Tad Armstrong, Harald Herchen, Emily Wong, Cheng-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 10707494
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas-diffusion layer used for fuel cells, including: a porous material that includes as main ingredients conductive particles and a polymer resin, wherein said gas-diffusion layer internally possesses pores with a size from 0.01 ?m to 0.05 ?m, and hollows with a size from 1 ?m to 200 ?m. Further disclosed is a process for producing a gas-diffusion layer used for fuel cells, including: (i) kneading conductive particles, a polymer resin, a pore-forming agent, a surfactant, and a dispersion solvent; (ii) rolling the mixture obtained in Step (i) to shape said mixture into a sheet; (iii) baking the sheet-shaped mixture to sublime the pore-forming agent, thereby forming hollows therein, and to remove the surfactant and the dispersion solvent; and (iv) further rolling the baked mixture to adjust a thickness of the baked mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kawashima, Keiichi Kondou, Masashi Shoji, Koji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10577695
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discharge surface treatment electrode includes: a first laying of laying powder particles to form a first powder layer; and a first binding of binding some of the powder particles in the first powder layer to each other. The method further includes: a second laying of further laying the powder particles on the first powder layer in which some of the powder particles are bound to each other to form a second powder layer; and a second binding of binding some of the powder particles in the second powder layer to each other to form a stacked body of granulated particles. A region having a different porosity from another region is formed inside the stacked body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetaka Katogi, Nobuyuki Sumi, Yoshikazu Nakano
  • Patent number: 9923211
    Abstract: A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes providing a chromium alloy interconnect and providing a nickel mesh in contact with a fuel side of the interconnect. Formation of a chromium oxide layer is reduced or avoided in locations between the nickel mesh and the fuel side of the interconnect. A Cr—Ni alloy or a Cr—Fe—Ni alloy is located at least in the fuel side of the interconnect under the nickel mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Andres Leming, Shailendra Parihar, Michael Gasda
  • Patent number: 9468736
    Abstract: A method of making an interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack includes providing a chromium alloy interconnect and providing a nickel mesh in contact with a fuel side of the interconnect. Formation of a chromium oxide layer is reduced or avoided in locations between the nickel mesh and the fuel side of the interconnect. A Cr—Ni alloy or a Cr—Fe—Ni alloy is located at least in the fuel side of the interconnect under the nickel mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Darga, Tad Armstrong, Vijay Srivatsan, Harald Herchen, Cheng-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 8968946
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided, comprising a cell unit capable of gas exhausting. The cell unit comprises an anode current collector and a cathode current collector. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is interposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector. A frame is formed to surround the MEA, the anode current collector, and the cathode current collector. A hydrophilic gas-blocking layer is disposed adjacent to an anode side of the MEA, underlying the MEA and the frame. A hydrophobic gas-penetrating layer is disposed under the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer. At least one gas exhaust is disposed in the frame, exposing a part of the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer and contacting the area surrounding adjacent to the cell unit for exhausting a gas produced by the MEA from the cell unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ku-Yen Kang, Chun-Ho Tai, Chiou-Chu Lai, Yin-Wen Tsai, Ying-Ying Hsu
  • Patent number: 8926844
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing an amount of unwanted living organisms within an algae cultivation fluid are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods may include subjecting the algae cultivation fluid to an amount of cavitation, the amount of cavitation being defined by a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and a vapor pressure, the pressure differential divided by half of a product of a fluid density multiplied by a square of a velocity of an apparatus throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Aurora Algae, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran Parsheh, Megan Hippler, Shahrokh A Naieni, Guido Radaelli
  • Patent number: 8906577
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anode supported solid-oxide fuel cell based flame fuel cell that enable the generation of both electricity and heat from a flame (i.e. flame is used as a heat source and a fuel source for the fuel cell's operation, while supplying a useful heat for other thermochemical systems) and, more particularly, to an anode supported solid-oxide fuel cell based flame fuel cell that uses hydrocarbon/air mixture as a fuel source and includes a catalyst layer that can act as a protective layer for the anode layer, an anode layer, a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an interlayer between the cathode layer and the electrolyte layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Syracuse University
    Inventor: Jeongmin Ahn
  • Patent number: 8906575
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell assembly that is expected to prevent or at least minimize electrode contamination includes one or more getters that trap a component or components leached from a first electrode and prevents or at least minimizes them from contaminating a second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Seung Kim, Piotr Zelenay, Christina Johnston
  • Patent number: 8877404
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises an electrolyte membrane; first and second catalyst layers formed on respective faces of the electrolyte membrane; and first and second reinforcing layers holding therebetween the electrolyte membrane and the first and second catalyst layers, wherein the first catalyst layer and the first reinforcing layer are joined together with a force of not less than a specific joint strength that suppresses expansion and contraction of the electrolyte membrane, and the second catalyst layer and the second reinforcing layer are joined together with a force of less than a specific joint strength that releases a stress due to expansion and contraction of the electrolyte membrane, or the second catalyst layer and the second reinforcing layer are not joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Oda
  • Patent number: 8871403
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack system is configured to uniformly supply a fuel or an electrolytic solution to each of fuel cell elements, and an electronic device using the fuel cell stack system are provided. An electrolytic solution channel allowing an electrolytic solution to flow therethrough is arranged between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, and a fuel channel allowing a fuel to flow therethrough is arranged outside of the fuel electrode. The electrolytic solution channels and the fuel channels of all fuel cell elements are connected in series to one another. That is, the fuel or the electrolytic solution emitted from an outlet of the fuel channel or the electrolytic solution channel of one fuel cell element enters into an inlet of the fuel channel or the electrolytic solution channel of the next fuel cell element through a connection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Makita, Shinichi Uesaka, Yasunori Ohto
  • Publication number: 20140272664
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a fuel cell is provided comprising a positive electrode including a first gas diffusion layer and a first catalyst layer, a negative electrode including a second gas diffusion layer and a second catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a microporous layer of carbon and binder disposed between at least one of the first gas diffusion layer and the first catalyst layer and the second gas diffusion layer and the second catalyst layer. The microporous layer may have defined therein a plurality of pores with a diameter of 0.05 to 2.0 ?m and a plurality of bores having a diameter of 1 to 100 ?m. The bores may be laser perforated and comprise from 0.1 to 5 percent of a total porosity of the microporous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: ZIJIE LU, JAMES WALDECKER, MICHAEL ALLEN DEBOLT, DONALD PAUL ALESSI
  • Patent number: 8795927
    Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer characterized by comprising composite particles comprising electrode catalyst particles supported on electrically conductive particles, a perfluorocarbonsulfonic acid resin (component A) and a polyazole compound (component B), the content of the composite particles being 20 to 95% by weight, the total weight of component A and component B being 5 to 80% by weight, the weight ratio between component A and component B (A/B) being 1 to 999.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Miyake
  • Patent number: 8778561
    Abstract: An electrocatalytic polymer-based powder has particles of at least one electronically conductive polymer species in which particles are dispersed of at least one catalytic redox species, in which the particles of the polymer species and of the catalytic species are of nanometric dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Raffaele Vecchione, Giuseppe Mensitieri, Anna Borriello
  • Patent number: 8748057
    Abstract: To provide an ionic electrolyte membrane structure that enables contact between the air pole and the fuel pole in which structure an edge face of the interface between an ion conducting layer and an ion non-conducting layer stands bare on a plane, an ionic electrolyte membrane structure which transmits ions only is made up of i) a substrate having a plurality of pores which have been made through the substrate in the thickness direction thereof and ii) a plurality of multi-layer membranes each comprising an ion conducting layer formed of an ion conductive material and an ion non-conducting layer formed of an ion non-conductive material which have alternately been formed in laminae a plurality of times on each inner wall surface of the pores of the substrate in such a way that the multi-layer membranes fill up the pores completely; the ions only being transmitted in the through direction by way of the multi-layer membranes provided on the inner wall surfaces of the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20140154608
    Abstract: A cathode catalyst layer used for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that includes an electrolyte membrane is provided. The cathode catalyst layer comprises a catalyst having weight of not greater than 0.3 mg/cm2 of a reaction surface of the cathode catalyst layer that is adjoining the electrolyte membrane; and an electrolyte resin having oxygen permeability of not less than 2.2*10?14 mol/m/s/Pa in an environment of temperature of 80 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nonoyama, Masanori Aimu, Randal Lewis Perry, Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Robert Clayton Wheland, Ralph Munson Aten
  • Patent number: 8734970
    Abstract: Actuators are attached with plates of a fuel cell stack. Electrical power is provided to the actuators to drive the actuators to mechanically excite the plates to agitate liquid water restricting or blocking flow fields formed in the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: George Steven Saloka, Allen H. Meitzler
  • Patent number: 8715867
    Abstract: An anode/cathode system is disclosed for use in a Benthic microbial fuel cell. Carbon cloth forms at least a portion of the anode and is disposed on one side of a water oxygen impermeable layer, which can be weighted around a periphery thereof to hold the anode against a water-sediment interface. Carbon cloth flaps or strands can be attached to the other side of the impermeable layer to form the cathode. The anode and cathode can be divided into sections with each section having an electrical lead coupled thereto. The system is deployed onto the seafloor with the anode side in contact with the water-sediment interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Frank J. McNeilly
  • Patent number: 8703347
    Abstract: A flat fuel cell assembly including a membrane electrode assembly, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector and a gas barrier material layer is provided. The membrane electrode assembly includes a proton conducting membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer disposed respectively on two sides of the proton conducting membrane, and an anode gas diffusion layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer disposed respectively on the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The cathode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the cathode gas diffusion layer. The anode porous current collector is disposed on one side of the anode gas diffusion layer. The gas barrier material layer having at least an opening exposing the surface of the cathode gas diffusion layer is disposed on the cathode gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ku-Yen Kang, Chun-Ho Tai, Chiou-Chu Lai, Ying-Ying Hsu, Yin-Wen Tsai
  • Patent number: 8685591
    Abstract: A dispersion composition including a fluorine-containing ion exchange resin having a repeating unit represented by the formulae (1) and a repeating unit represented by the formulae (2), and having an equivalent weight of 400 to 1000 g/eq; and a solvent comprising water, wherein Z represents H, Cl, F, or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; m represents an integer of 0 to 12; and n represents an integer of 0 to 2, and wherein an abundance ratio of a resin having a particle size of 10 ?m or more in the fluorine-containing ion exchange resin is 0.1% to 80% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei E-materials Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Murai, Kohei Kita, Naoki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140080011
    Abstract: The catalytic electrode of the present invention does not cause mass transfer resistance, unlike conventional catalytic electrodes coated with Nafion or the like, and thus can achieve significantly high electron transfer efficiency. Accordingly, the catalytic electrode can have high power density, and thus has excellent physical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jungbae Kim, Jinwoo Lee, Chulmin Jeon, Jongmin Shim
  • Patent number: 8652686
    Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte includes a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Methods of making the composites are also disclosed. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon
  • Patent number: 8632924
    Abstract: Provided are a solid oxide fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The solid oxide fuel cell in which at least one or more unit modules are stacked and integrated with each other includes first and second solid electrolyte layers in which each of the unit modules includes a plurality of fuel electrodes spaced a predetermined distance from each other and each having a strip shape and first and second supports each including a plurality of slits each having the same strip shape as that of each of the fuel electrodes. The first and second solid electrolyte layers overlap with each other on lower and upper sides of the first support so that the fuel electrodes face each other within the slits of the first support, and the second support overlaps with a lower side of the first or second solid electrolyte layer overlapping with the lower side of the first support so that the slits of the second support are disposed perpendicular to the slits of the first support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering & Technology
    Inventors: Hyo Soon Shin, Dong-Hun Yeo, Youn-Woo Hong, Jong Hee Kim, Sang Ok Yoon
  • Patent number: 8507151
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane having at least one electrode layer on each of the opposing sides of the membrane. The electrode layer comprises a catalyst, an electrically conductive particulate material and an ionomer binder. The ionomer binder concentration on the exterior surface of the MEA is lower than the ionomer binder concentration near the electrode membrane interface. The electrode layer is formed by casting and drying a solvent ink layer between a nonporous release surface and a porous releasable decal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Budinski
  • Patent number: 8383283
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte matrix having a cathode side with a cathode disposed thereon and an anode side with an anode receiving portion and a sealing portion positioned peripherally to the anode receiving portion. The anode receiving portion has an anode disposed thereon. A fuel conduit has one or more one sealing platforms and having an opening extending through the fuel conduit. The anode is positioned in the opening. The fuel cell includes one or more devices for preventing the occurrence an electrical short circuit between the cathode and the sealing platform. The device for preventing the electrical short circuit is aligned with the sealing portion and sealing platform and is positioned on the electrolyte matrix, the cathode and/or the sealing platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao-yi Yun, Mohammad Farooque, Abdelkader Hilmi, Richard Johnsen, Gengfu Xu
  • Patent number: 8361677
    Abstract: A membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising an anode and a cathode each having a catalyst layer containing a proton conductive polymer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the proton conductive polymer has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.07 S/cm at a temperature of 80° C. at a relative humidity of 40% and has a water content less than 150 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Satoru Hommura, Tetsuji Shimohira, Takashi Saeki, Susumu Saito
  • Patent number: 8354011
    Abstract: An electrolyzer cell is disclosed which includes a cathode to reduce an oxygen-containing molecule, such as H2O, CO2, or a combination thereof, to produce an oxygen ion and a fuel molecule, such as H2, CO, or a combination thereof. An electrolyte is coupled to the cathode to transport the oxygen ion to an anode. The anode is coupled to the electrolyte to receive the oxygen ion and produce oxygen gas therewith. In one embodiment, the anode may be fabricated to include an electron-conducting phase having a perovskite crystalline structure or structure similar thereto. This perovskite may have a chemical formula of substantially (Pr(1-x)Lax)(z-y)A?yBO(3-?), wherein 0<x<1, 0?y?0.5, and 0.8?z?1.1. In another embodiment, the cathode includes an electron-conducting phase that contains nickel oxide intermixed with magnesium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Elangovan, Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Feng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20130011768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anode supported solid-oxide fuel cell based flame fuel cell that enable the generation of both electricity and heat from a flame (i.e. flame is used as a heat source and a fuel source for the fuel cell's operation, while supplying a useful heat for other thermochemical systems) and, more particularly, to an anode supported solid-oxide fuel cell based flame fuel cell that uses hydrocarbon/air mixture as a fuel source and includes a catalyst layer that can act as a protective layer for the anode layer, an anode layer, a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an interlayer between the cathode layer and the electrolyte layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jeongmin Ahn
  • Patent number: 8349522
    Abstract: A fuel cell (1) includes an anode (11), a cathode (14), an electrolyte layer (13) containing ceria and provided between the anode (11) and the cathode (14), and at least two intermediate layers containing zirconia and provided between the electrolyte layer (13) and the anode (11). The at least two intermediate layers include a first intermediate layer (18) that contains ceria and a second intermediate layer (19) that has a higher zirconia concentration than the first intermediate layer and is provided between the first intermediate layer and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayano Kobayashi, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 8349521
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes a fuel electrode, an oxidizing agent electrode, and an electrolyte membrane provided between the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode with at least one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizing agent electrode contains a proton conductive inorganic oxide, which includes an oxide carrier containing Ti, Zr, Si and/or Al; and W, Mo, Cr and/or V oxide particles supported on a surface of the oxide carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Tamura, Yoshihiko Nakano, Hideo Oota
  • Patent number: 8334075
    Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte includes a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Such composites may be made by disclosed techniques. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon
  • Patent number: 8323849
    Abstract: A fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane and/or an electrode which includes a crosslinked polybenzoxazine-based compound formed of a polymerized product of at least one selected from a first benzoxazine-based monomer and second benzoxazine-based monomer, the first benzoxazine-based monomer and second benzoxazine-based monomer having a halogen atom or a halogen atom-containing functional group, crosslinked with a cross-linkable compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-woo Choi, Jung-ock Park
  • Patent number: 8309267
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (10) includes: a polymer electrolyte membrane (20); an electrode catalyst layer (90c) provided on one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (20); a separator (80c) having electrical conductivity, and shielding gas; and an electrode member (50c) interposed between the electrode catalyst layer (90c) and the separator (80c) and constituting an electrode together with the electrode catalyst layer (90c). The electrode member (50c) includes: first contact portions (111) in direct contact with the electrode catalyst layer (90c); second contact portions (112) in direct contact with the separator (80c); and gas diffusion paths (121) through which the gas flows. The electrode member (50c) is provided with a large number of pores (131) formed therein, and constituted by a plate member (100) having electrical conductivity and bent into a wave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8288058
    Abstract: This invention provides a binder for a fuel cell which has high adhesion, low methanol solubility, high methanol permeability and high proton conductivity, a composition for electrode formation, an electrode for a fuel cell, and a fuel cell using them. The binder is particularly suitable for a binder for a direct methanol type fuel cell which requires high proton conductivity. The binder for a fuel cell comprises a block copolymer which comprises a block having a repeating structural unit of a divalent aromatic group that contains a protonic acid group and a block having a repeating structural unit of a divalent aromatic group that does not contain a protonic acid group, and which has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 180° C. or less. In particular, it is preferable that the block copolymer has an ion exchange group equivalent of from 200 to 1,000 g/mole and a weight retention ratio of 90% or more as measured by immersion in a 64 weight % aqueous methanol solution at 25° C. for 24 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toriida, Junichi Ishikawa, Takehiko Omi, Satoko Fujiyama, Kuniyuki Takamatsu, Shoji Tamai
  • Patent number: 8247136
    Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yushan Yan, Xin Wang, Wenzhen Li, Mahesh Waje, Zhongwei Chen, William Goddard, Wei-Qiao Deng
  • Publication number: 20120196205
    Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell, a membrane electrode assembly including the electrode, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly. Due to the inclusion of a barrier layer between a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer, the electrode prevents leakage of phosphoric acid moving from the catalyst layer to the diffusion layer and prolongs the lifetime of the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-ock PARK, Tae-young Kim, Seong-woo Choi, Yoon-hoi Lee
  • Patent number: 8202664
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is structured such that an anode is joined, via a carbon layer, to one surface of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane containing PBI and phosphoric acid and a cathode is joined to the other surface. The carbon layer is constituted by carbon powder and a first binder. Carbon black, carbon nanotube and the like may be used as carbon powder. The thickness of the carbon layer is preferably greater than that of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Nakato, Atsuo Sonai
  • Patent number: 8187764
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a porous layer containing a moisture retentive material. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer adjacent to the electrolyte membrane and an anode diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer, and the porous layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane. The performance of the fuel cell can be stably maintained even when a fuel supply is temporarily interrupted due to a malfunction of a pump or clogging of a fuel channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-rae Kim, Hae-kyoung Kim, Seung-jae Lee, Hyuk Chang
  • Patent number: 8182943
    Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte include a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Methods of making the composites is also disclosed. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. DeJonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon
  • Patent number: 8182965
    Abstract: Lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxides (La(1-x)SrxCoyFe1-yO3-f; (LSCF) have excellent power density (>500 mW/cm2 at 750° C.). When covered with a metallization layer, LSCF cathodes have demonstrated increased durability and stability. Other modifications, such as the thickening of the cathode, the preparation of the device by utilizing a firing temperature in a designated range, and the use of a pore former paste having designated characteristics and combinations of these features provide a device with enhanced capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jin Yong Kim, Vincent L. Sprenkle, Nathan L. Canfield, Kerry D. Meinhardt, Lawrence A. Chick
  • Patent number: 8183174
    Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-doped ruthenium oxide material by heating a mixture of a doping metal and a source of ruthenium under an inert atmosphere. In some embodiments, the doping metal is in the form of iridium black or lead powder, and the source of ruthenium is a powdered ruthenium oxide. An iridium-doped or lead-doped ruthenium oxide material can perform as an oxygen evolution catalyst and can be fabricated into electrodes for electrolysis cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Thomas I. Valdez, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8182964
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention includes: an anode and a cathode facing each other; and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode and the cathode or both include an electrode substrate and a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a catalyst, a hydrophilic ionomer, and a hydrophobic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Ho-Jin Kweon, Sang-Il Han
  • Patent number: 8163442
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for manufacturing a catalyst-coated membrane, the catalyst-coated membrane manufactured by the method, and a fuel cell including the catalyst-coated membrane manufactured by the method. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a mask including a masking film layer and a first adhesive layer laminated on the masking film layer, and having patterns in which portions corresponding to the portions of an electrolyte membrane to be coated with catalyst are removed; (b) attaching the mask on one surface or both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; (c) coating catalyst ink on the electrolyte membrane through the patterns of the mask so as to form a catalyst layer; and (d) removing the masking film layer and the first adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Min Song, Jin Nam Park, Sung Eun Kim, Sang Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8163441
    Abstract: Separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) comprise a porous electrode useful as a positive or negative electrode, in a lithium battery and a separator layer applied to this electrode, the separator layer being an inorganic separator layer comprising at least two fractions of metal oxide particles different from each other in their average particle size and/or in the metal, and the electrode having active mass particles are bonded together and to the current collector by inorganic adhesive; and a process for their production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Hoerpel, Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Sven Augustin
  • Patent number: 8153332
    Abstract: Fuel cells 100 of the invention are operable at a temperature of about 500° C. The unit cell has a solid oxide electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen separable metal layer. An anode has a catalyst supported thereon to accelerate a reforming reaction of methane. A fuel gas is produced by reforming a hydrocarbon-containing material in a reformer 20. Setting a lower reaction temperature enables production of the fuel gas containing both methane and hydrogen. In the fuel cells 100 receiving a supply of the fuel gas, the reforming reaction of methane contained in the fuel gas proceeds simultaneously with consumption of hydrogen contained in the fuel gas. This methane reforming reaction is endothermic to absorb heat produced in the process of power generation and thereby equalizes the operation temperature of the fuel cells 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Aoyama, Satoshi Iguchi, Koichi Numata, Masahiko Iijima, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 8142938
    Abstract: A catalyst including: a plurality of porous clusters of silver particles, each cluster including: (a) a plurality of primary particles of silver, and (b) crystalline particles of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), wherein at least a portion of the crystalline particles of ZrO2 is located in pores formed by a surface of the plurality of primary particles of silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bar Ilan University
    Inventors: Ernst Khasin, Arie Zaban
  • Patent number: 8105733
    Abstract: A process for producing a separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) which comprises a porous electrode useful as a positive or negative electrode in a lithium battery and a separator layer applied to this electrode wherein the separator layer being an inorganic separator layer comprising at least two fractions of metal oxide particles different from each other in their average particle size and/or in the metal, and the electrode having active mass particles that are bonded together and to a current collector by an inorganic adhesive; and the separator-electrode assembly comprises no organic polymer binder. The process comprising form the porous electrode by applying a suspension comprising active mass particles suspended in a sol or a dispersion of nanoscale active mass particles in a solvent and solidifying the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Hoerpel, Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Sven Augustin
  • Publication number: 20110294041
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell, wherein one of the electrodes of the fuel cell or an electrically conductive carrier, on which this electrode is applied, is designed as stabilizing substrate (1), in which multiple tubular hollows with preferably round, oval and/or square cross sections and with at least one open end are arranged, wherein the hollows are coated with at least an electrolyte (2) and at least the other, second electrode (3) of the fuel cell, and wherein at least one constructional element, hereinafter also denoted as constructional feature, is arranged on or at and/or integrated into the substrate, said constructional element being adapted for the integration of the fuel cell into a reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Sascha Kuehn, Katrin Klein, Buchinger Gerhard