Patents Assigned to Fullerene USA, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6706431
    Abstract: A fuel cell having an electrode and/or catalyst formed from a nano-carbon material, such as fullerene, carbon nanotube, carbon nanohorn, carbon nano-fiber or metal encapsulated fullerene. Such fuel cells may not use platinum in the electrode or catalyst, or may use platinum in small amounts. The efficiency of the fuel cell may be increased by applying external energy to the electrode and/or catalyst. A cationic membrane may be positioned between the cathode and anode of the fuel cell. Also disclosed is an improved method for generating electricity from a fuel cell having at least one electrode formed from a nano-carbon material. To increase the efficiency of the fuel cell, the electrode or catalyst containing nano-carbon material may be irradiated with blue color diode light, or an electric current may be directed to the nano-carbon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fullerene USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Naotake Kawamura, Kazuhide Ota, Ken K. Inouye