Abstract: The present technology relates to apparatus and methods for providing contact pressure distribution between fuel cell components in a fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the technology relates to fuel cell flow field plate designs and to compression systems for fuel cell stacks that can be used, separately or in combination, to provide more uniform contact pressure distribution across the active area of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a catalyst assembly. In one embodiment, the catalyst assembly includes a two-dimension (2-D) extensive catalyst including one or more precious catalytic metals and having a catalyst crystal plane; and a substrate supporting the 2-D extensive catalyst, the substrate including one or more non-precious catalytic metals and having a substrate crystal plane in substantial alignment with the catalyst crystal plane.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the catalyst assembly includes a two-dimension (2-D) extensive catalyst having a catalyst crystal plane; and a substrate supporting the 2-D extensive catalyst and having a substrate crystal plane in substantial alignment with the catalyst crystal plane. In certain instances, the catalyst crystal plane includes first and second adjacent catalyst atoms defining a catalyst atomic distance, the substrate crystal plane includes first and second adjacent substrate atoms defining a substrate atomic distance, a percent difference between the catalyst and substrate atomic distances is less than 10 percent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal oxygen battery is provided. The metal oxygen battery includes a battery housing including a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment includes a first electrode and an oxygen storage material in communication with the first electrode. The second compartment includes a second electrode and the second electrode includes a metal material (M). In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material is configured as a number of particles disposed within the first electrode. In certain instances, at least a portion of the number of particles are each contained within a selective transport member. In certain other instances, the selective transport member is oxygen permeable and electrolyte impermeable.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal oxygen battery system includes a metal oxygen battery having an electrode compartment. The electrode compartment includes an electrode being formed of an oxygen storage material. In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes an ion conducting component. In yet another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes an electron conducting component. In yet another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes a catalytic component. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the ion conducting component, the electron conducting component, and the catalytic component is attached to the oxygen storage material via a linker or as a pendant group.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of using hydrogen includes forming a crystalline solid mixture of a metal halide M2(HL)y with a metal borohydride M1(BH4)x; and forming an amorphous liquid mixture from the crystalline solid mixture.

Abstract: A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.

Abstract: A cover, sample tray and base may form a hydrogen storage engineering properties analyzer. In at least one embodiment, the sample tray includes a plurality of cooling fins, each of which includes a sample well therein. A variety of hydrogen storage materials may be loaded into and unloaded from each sample well by way of a respective sample well opening. The combined cover and sample tray define at least one plenum which may be in fluid communication between a source of pressurized hydrogen gas and each sample well. The cooling fins may be received by a cooling chamber defined within the base and configured to receive a through-flow of heat-exchange fluid. Certain embodiments may include one or more pressure transducers in fluid communication between the plenum and hydrogen source, and thermal transducers connected to portions of the cooling fins.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid hydrogen storage system is provided. In one embodiment, the hybrid hydrogen storage system includes: a first hydrogen storage material present at a first volume percent (%) having a first gravimetric capacity and a first volumetric capacity; and a second hydrogen storage material forming an unreacted mixture with the first hydrogen storage material and present at a second volume % being 100 volume % minus the first volume %, the second storage material having a second gravimetric capacity and a second volumetric capacity, the first gravimetric capacity at the first volume % being higher or lower than the second gravimetric capacity at the second volume %, and the first volumetric capacity at the first volume % being the other of higher or lower than the second volumetric capacity at the second volume %.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a battery system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery system includes a metal oxygen battery (MOB) having a first electrode and second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material. The battery system also includes an oxygen storage material disposed within the metal oxygen battery. In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material is on oxygen communication with the first electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of using hydrogen includes forming a crystalline solid mixture of a metal halide M2(HL)y with a metal borohydride M1(BH4)x; and forming an amorphous liquid mixture from the crystalline solid mixture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a catalyst/substrate construction includes: identifying a catalyst having a specific activity, determining a surface area factor for supporting the catalyst based on the specific activity of the catalyst; selecting a substrate having the surface area factor; and applying the substrate to the catalyst to form the catalyst/substrate construction. In certain instances, the surface area factor may be determined according to the following equation: SA support ? ( cm support 2 ? / ? cm planar 2 ) = [ “ Baseline ” ? ( A ? / ? mg Pt ) × Mass ? ? Activity ? ? IF × Loading ? ? ( mg Pt ? / ? cm 2 ) ] [ Specific ? ? Activity ? ? ( ?A ? / ? cm 2 ) × 0.

Abstract: A cover, sample tray and base may form a hydrogen storage engineering properties analyzer. In at least one embodiment, the sample tray includes a plurality of cooling fins, each of which includes a sample well therein. A variety of hydrogen storage materials may be loaded into and unloaded from each sample well by way of a respective sample well opening. The combined cover and sample tray define at least one plenum which may be in fluid communication between a source of pressurized hydrogen gas and each sample well. The cooling fins may be received by a cooling chamber defined within the base and configured to receive a through-flow of heat-exchange fluid. Certain embodiments may include one or more pressure transducers in fluid communication between the plenum and hydrogen source, and thermal transducers connected to portions of the cooling fins.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a catalyst/substrate construction includes: identifying a catalyst having a specific activity, determining a surface area factor for supporting the catalyst based on the specific activity of the catalyst; selecting a substrate having the surface area factor; and applying the substrate to the catalyst to form the catalyst/substrate construction. In certain instances, the surface area factor may be determined according to the following equation: SA support ? ( cm support 2 / cm planar 2 ) = [ ? ? Baseline ? ? ( A ? / ? mg Pt ) × Mass ? ? Activity ? ? I ? ? F × Loading ? ? ( mg Pt ? / ? cm 2 ) ] ? [ Specific ? ? Activity ? ? ( µ ? ? A ? / ? cm 2 ) × 0.

Abstract: A system for reversibly storing hydrogen includes a storage tank with an internal volume with a thermally conducting composite material situated within the storage tank and having a three-dimensional and interconnected framework of a conductive metal within the internal volume of the storage tank.

Abstract: A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode, an oxygen storage material, and a selective transport member separating the oxygen storage material and the first electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydrogen storage system includes a core of hydrogen sorbent material and a shell of crystalline metal hydride material enclosing at least a portion of the core of hydrogen sorbent material. In another embodiment, the hydrogen storage system further includes an intermediate layer of amorphous metal hydride material, at least a portion of which being positioned between the core of hydrogen sorbent material and the shell of crystalline metal hydride material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the catalyst assembly includes a two-dimension (2-D) extensive catalyst having a catalyst crystal plane; and a substrate supporting the 2-D extensive catalyst and having a substrate crystal plane in substantial alignment with the catalyst crystal plane. In certain instances, the catalyst crystal plane includes first and second adjacent catalyst atoms defining a catalyst atomic distance, the substrate crystal plane includes first and second adjacent substrate atoms defining a substrate atomic distance, a percent difference between the catalyst and substrate atomic distances is less than 10 percent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal oxygen battery system includes a metal oxygen battery having an electrode compartment. The electrode compartment includes an electrode being formed of an oxygen storage material. In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes an ion conducting component. In yet another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes an electron conducting component. In yet another embodiment, the oxygen storage material includes a catalytic component. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the ion conducting component, the electron conducting component, and the catalytic component is attached to the oxygen storage material via a linker or as a pendant group.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a metal oxygen battery is provided. The metal oxygen battery includes a battery housing including a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment includes a first electrode and an oxygen storage material in communication with the first electrode. The second compartment includes a second electrode and the second electrode includes a metal material (M). In another embodiment, the oxygen storage material is configured as a number of particles disposed within the first electrode. In certain instances, at least a portion of the number of particles are each contained within a selective transport member. In certain other instances, the selective transport member is oxygen permeable and electrolyte impermeable.