Abstract: A highly oriented humic acid film, comprising multiple humic acid (HA) or chemically functionalized humic acid (CHA) sheets that are chemically bonded or merged and are substantially parallel to one another, wherein the film has a thickness from 5 nm to 500 ?m, a physical density no less than 1.3 g/cm3, hexagonal carbon planes with an inter-planar spacing d002 of 0.4 nm to 1.3 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction, and a non-carbon element content or oxygen content lower than 5% by weight.

Abstract: A highly oriented humic acid film, comprising multiple humic acid (HA) or chemically functionalized humic acid (CHA) sheets that are chemically bonded or merged and are substantially parallel to one another, wherein the film has a thickness from 5 nm to 500 ?m, a physical density no less than 1.3 g/cm3, hexagonal carbon planes with an inter-planar spacing d002 of 0.4 nm to 1.3 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction, and a non-carbon element content or oxygen content lower than 5% by weigh.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved heat radiating device for lamp, comprising an exhaust space configured around the periphery of lamp stand, an exhaust fan disposed at the top of exhaust space, and simultaneously a radiator and a plurality of heat conductors at the back of the printed circuit board of a light emitting diode (LED) lamp set where the heat conductors extend to the peripheral inner wall of lamp stand in the exhaust space. Through such a radiating device, high heat generated by the LED lamp set can be dissipated through the radiator and through the plurality of heat conductors to the periphery of lamp stand in the exhaust space, thereby enlarging the heat dissipation area. In addition, through the exhaust fan disposed at the top of the exhaust space, ventilation can take place continuously to let the heat in the exhaust space be vented rapidly, thereby achieving fast heat dissipation and prolonging the service life of LED lamp.

Abstract: A controlled-release fuel cell comprising (a) a proton exchange membrane having a first surface and a second surface, a fuel electrode or anode being coupled to the first surface, and an oxidant electrode or cathode being coupled to the second surface; (b) a fuel flow field plate having surface channels positioned in front of the anode with the channels containing therein a controlled-release material that retains a liquid fuel at or below an ambient temperature, but releases the fuel at a temperature higher than an activation temperature to deliver a fuel vapor to the anode; (c) heating means in heat-supplying relation to the controlled-release material to activate fuel vapor release on demand at a desired rate; and (d) fuel supply means that feeds the liquid fuel to the controlled-release material. The invented fuel cell is compact and lightweight, with significantly reduced fuel crossover and improved fuel utilization efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nano-composite material comprising fully separated nano-scaled graphene platelets (NGPs) dispersed in a matrix material, wherein each of the platelets comprises a sheet of graphite plane or multiple sheets of graphite plane and has a thickness no greater than 100 nm and the platelets have an average length, width, or diameter no greater than 500 nm. The graphene plates are present in an amount no less than 15% by weight based on the total weight of the platelets and the matrix material combined. Typically, the nanocomposite is electrically conductive with a bulk conductivity no less than 10 S/cm and more typically no less than 100 S/cm. Highly conductive NGP nanocomposites are particularly useful for fuel cell flow field plate (bipolar plate) and battery electrode applications. Nanocomposites with high NGP proportions can be used in automotive friction plates and aircraft brake components.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate having flow channels on faces of the plate, comprising an electrically conductive polymer composite. The composite is composed of (A) at least 50% by weight of a conductive filler, comprising at least 5% by weight reinforcement fibers, expanded graphite platelets, graphitic nano-fibers, and/or carbon nano-tubes; (B) polymer matrix material at 1 to 49.9% by weight; and (C) a polymer binder at 0.1 to 10% by weight; wherein the sum of the conductive filler weight %, polymer matrix weight % and polymer binder weight % equals 100% and the bulk electrical conductivity of the flow field or bipolar plate is at least 100 S/cm. The invention also provides a continuous process for cost-effective mass production of the conductive composite-based flow field or bipolar plate.

Abstract: A method of making an integrated bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component comprising the steps of: (a) directing a stream of precursor material into a molding tool, wherein the stream of precursor material comprises a mixture of an electrically conductive fiber, a binder, and a carrier fluid; (b) molding the precursor material into a monolithic preform having a porous region having a porous surface, and at least one reactant channel; (c) curing or solidifying the binder to impart a desired level of rigidity to the preform; and (d) infiltrating a portion of the porous region with a matrix material to form a hermetic region of the preform to obtain the bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component, wherein the matrix material contains no chemical vapor infiltration carbon. This component can be mass-produced at a fast rate with a relatively low cost. The integrated component has a reduced contact resistance or ohmic loss when used in a fuel cell system.

Abstract: This invention provides a highly electrically conductive sheet molding compound (SMC) composition and a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate made from such a composition. The composition comprises a top sheet, a bottom sheet, and a resin mixture sandwiched between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. At least one of the top sheet and bottom sheet comprises a flexible graphite sheet, which has a substantially planar outer surface having formed therein a fluid flow channel. Further, the resin mixture comprises a thermoset resin and a conductive filler present in a sufficient quantity to render the flow field plate electrically conductive enough to be a current collector (preferably with a conductivity no less than 100 S/cm). Preferably, both the top and bottom surfaces are flexible graphite sheets, each having a substantially planar outer surface having therein a fluid flow channel formed by embossing.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of producing a highly electrically conductive sheet molding compound (SMC) composition and a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate made from such a composition. The plate exhibits a conductivity typically greater than 100 S/cm and more typically greater than 200 S/cm. In one preferred embodiment, the method comprises: (a) providing a continuous sheet of a substrate material (bottom sheet) and a continuous sheet of flexible graphite (top sheet) from respective rollers; (b) feeding a resin mixture (comprising a thermoset resin and a conductive filler) to a space between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in such a way that the resin mixture forms a uniform core layer sandwiched between the two sheets to obtain a laminated structure; (c) compressing the laminated structure to obtain a SMC composition having two opposite outer surfaces; and (e) impressing a fluid flow channel to either or both of the outer surfaces (e.g.

Abstract: An integrated bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component comprising a monolith of electrically conducting preform material having: (a) a porous region having a porous surface; and (b) a 6 hermetic region infiltrated with a matrix material containing no chemical vapor infiltrated carbon. The hermetic region defines at least a portion of one coolant channel. The porous region defines at least a portion of at least one reactant channel, as well as a flow field medium for diffusing a reactant to the porous surface. This component can be mass-produced at a fast rate with a relatively low cost. The integrated component has a reduced contact resistance or ohmic loss.

Abstract: A self-humidifying proton exchange membrane (PEM) composition, a membrane-electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The PEM composition comprises (a) a proton-conducting polymer; (b) a catalyst that promotes the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen molecules to generate water in the membrane, and (c) a deliquescent material dispersed in this polymer. The amount of catalyst is preferably 0.01%-50% by weight on the basis of the polymer weight. The catalyst is preferably a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and mixtures and alloys thereof. Suitable deliquescent materials include, but are not limited to, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, potassium biphosphate, potassium acetate and combinations thereof. A deliquescent material absorbs and retains an essentially constant amount of moisture to keep the proton mobile in the PEM structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a nano-composite composition and a method of making such a composite that is composed of a matrix material and dispersed reinforcement nano-scaled graphene plates (NGPs) that are substantially aligned along at least one specified direction or axis. The method comprises: (a) providing a mixture of nano-scaled graphene plates (NGPs) and a matrix material in a fluent state; (b) extruding the mixture to form a filament wherein NGPs are aligned along a filament axis; (c) aligning a plurality of segments of the filament in a first direction, or moving the filament back and forth along a first direction and its opposite direction, to form a NGP-matrix filament preform; and (d) consolidating the preform to form the nanocomposite material. Also disclosed is a method of making a nano-composite fiber.

Abstract: A fuel cell including primarily (a) a membrane electrode assembly, which comprises (i) a proton exchange membrane having a front face and a rear face, (ii) an anode being coupled to the front face, and (iii) a cathode being coupled to the rear face; (b) a fuel permeation-controlling member positioned in front of the anode; the member being substantially impermeable to an organic fuel or water at an ambient temperature or below, but being permeable at a temperature higher than an activation temperature; (c) heating means in control relation to the fuel permeation-controlling member to activate fuel permeation through the member on demand. The invented fuel cell is compact and lightweight, with significantly reduced fuel crossover and improved fuel utilization efficiency. The fuel cell is particularly useful for powering small vehicles and portable devices such as a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, and a digital camera.

Abstract: A process for producing a nano-scaled graphene plate. The material comprises a sheet of graphite plane or a multiplicity of sheets of graphite plane. The graphite plane is composed of a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms and the plate has a length and a width parallel to the graphite plane and a thickness orthogonal to the graphite plane with at least one of the length, width, and thickness values being 100 nanometers or smaller. The process for producing nano-scaled graphene plate material comprises the steps of: a). partially or fully carbonizing a precursor polymer or heat-treating petroleum or coal tar pitch to produce a polymeric carbon containing micron- and/or nanometer-scaled graphite crystallites with each crystallite comprising one sheet or a multiplicity of sheets of graphite plane; b). exfoliating the graphite crystallites in the polymeric carbon; and c).

Abstract: A hydrogen generator apparatus that delivers a hydrogen stream at a controlled rate to a fuel cell. The apparatus comprises a fuel tank, a wicking material in the fuel tank, a fluid retained in the wicking material, a first disc bounding the wicking material and comprising a hydrophilic membrane for receiving the fluid from the wicking material by a wicking pressure to form a fluid-wetted surface, a second disc having a porous surface area with the second disc being in contact with the first disc with the two discs moveable relative to each other, a catalyst on the porous surface to form a catalyst-coated surface, and hydrogen generated by hydrolyzation of the fluid contacting the catalyst due to a relative motion between the first disc and the second disc.

Abstract: An inorganic proton-conducting membrane and a fuel cell comprising this membrane. The fuel cell comprises a fuel anode, an oxidant cathode, and an inorganic proton-conducting membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The membrane is composed of a nano-structured network of proton-exchange inorganic particles. The particles form a sufficiently high density of proton-conducting nanometer-scaled channels with at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometers so that ionic conductivity of the membrane is no less than 10?6 S/cm (mostly greater than 10?4 S/cm ) at 25° C. or no less than 10?4 S/cm (mostly greater than 10?2 S/cm) at 200° C. This inorganic membrane allows a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell to operate at a higher temperature without the need (or with a reduced need) to maintain the membrane in a highly hydrated state. A higher operating temperature also implies a fast electro-catalytic reaction of a fuel (e.g.

Abstract: A dissolved-fuel alkaline fuel cell that comprises four main components: a) a fuel anode; b) a first oxygen cathode; c) an electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode and the first cathode, wherein the electrolyte comprises an alkaline solution and a first fuel dissolved in the alkaline solution; and d) a fuel reservoir comprising a solid fuel in physical contact with or in feeding relation to the alkaline solution. The first fuel and/or the solid fuel may be selected from the group consisting of NaBH4, KBH4, LiAlH4, KH, NaH, LiBH4, NaAlH4, (CH3)3NHBH3, NaCNBH3, CaH2, LiH, Na2S2O3, Na2HPO3, Na2HPO2, K2S2O3, K2HPO3, K2HPO2, NaCOOH and KCOOH. However, NaBH4 and KBH4 are the best choices for use as a fuel. The fuel reservoir can readily replenish a fuel into the electrolyte-fuel mixture or solution to ensure that the fuel cell continuously generates electrical current without an interruption or a voltage spike.

Abstract: Core-shell glass micro-spheres with a glass shell and a hollow or porous core for storing and releasing hydrogen fuel. The shell comprises a glass composition with a glass transition temperature (Tg) below 450° C. (preferably below 300° C. and most preferably below 200° C.) and a heat-absorbing materials, preferably comprising an infrared-absorbing ingredient. A combination of low Tg and the presence of an IR-absorbing material makes it possible to readily achieve a desired temperature T to reduce the shell tensile strength ?t to an extent that a tensile stress a experienced by a shell of the micro-spheres meets the condition of a ????t for causing hydrogen to diffuse out of the micro-spheres. The released hydrogen can be fed into a fuel cell or hydrogen combustion engine. Here, ? is a material-specific constant, typically in the range of 0.3 to 0.7.

Abstract: A solid-state metal-air electrochemical cell comprising: (A) a metal-containing electro-active anode; (B) an oxygen electro-active cathode; and (C) an ion-conducting glass electrolyte disposed between the metal-containing anode and the oxygen electro-active cathode. The cathode active material, which is oxygen gas, is not stored in the battery but rather fed from the environment. The oxygen cathode is preferably a composite carbon electrode which serves as the cathode current collector on which oxygen molecules are reduced during discharge of the battery to generate electric current. The glass electrolyte typically has an ion conductivity in the range of 5×10?5 to 2×10?3 S/cm. The electrolyte layer is preferably smaller than 10 ?m in thickness and further preferably smaller than 1 ?m. The anode metal is preferably lithium or lithium alloy, but may be selected from other elements such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum and zinc.

Abstract: A core-shell composition for gas storage, comprising a hollow or porous core and a shell comprising a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is composed of an exfoliated layered filler dispersed in a matrix material, which provides high mechanical strength to hold a high pressure gas such as hydrogen and high resistance to gas permeation. Alternatively, the porous core may contain a plurality of cavities selected from the group consisting of shell-hollow core micro-spheres, shell-porous core micro-spheres, and combinations thereof. These core-shell compositions, each capable of containing a great amount of hydrogen gas, can be used to store and feed hydrogen to fuel cells that supply electricity to apparatus such as portable electronic devices, automobiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles where mass is a major concern. A related method of storing and releasing hydrogen gas in or out of a plurality of core-shell compositions is also disclosed.