Abstract: A microbattery has a support having a front face, a rear face, first and second current collectors arranged on the front face. A stack including a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte is arranged on the current collectors. The anode and cathode respectively contact the first and second current collectors. A protective layer covers the stack. The microbattery has connections in contact with the first and second current collectors, passing through the support from the front face to the rear face. The stack substantially covers of the front face of the support. A method for producing the mircobattery includes etching cavities, in the front face of the support, having a depth that is smaller than the thickness of the support, filing of the cavities with a conducting material and removing a layer of the rear face of the support to uncover the conducting material in the cavities.

Abstract: An alkali fuel cell comprises a solid stack consisting of a first electrode, a solid membrane conducting hydroxide ions and a second electrode, each electrode comprising an active layer that is in contact with the solid membrane. The material forming the active layer of each electrode comprises at least a catalytic element, an electronic conductive element and an element conducting hydroxide ions. The element conducting hydroxide ions is a polymer having vinylaromatic units comprising a quaternary ammonium function and a hydroxide ion OH? is associated with each quaternary ammonium function. One such alkali fuel cell is unaffected by carbonation and maintains good electrochemical performances.

Abstract: The fuel cell, generating electric power from oxygen and hydrogen ions and comprising an anode (A), a magnetic cathode, comprising an active layer (2),and a proton electrolyte (1) between the anode and the cathode, comprises a network (3) of permanent magnets (4) designed to increase the diffusion of oxygen in the active layer. The centers of the magnets (4) of the network (3) of permanent magnets are preferably arranged with a two-dimensional distribution in a plane arranged at the interface between the electrolyte (1) and the active layer (2), the magnets being magnetized in parallel manner along the axis perpendicular to this plane. In this way, all the poles of one polarity (S) are surrounded by the active layer (2), all the poles of opposite polarity (N) being surrounded by the electrolyte (1).

Abstract: The basic module has a large functional surface area compared with its relatively small global surface area. It is composed mainly of a multitude of micro-volumes (10, 110) installed in a closed space between a lower border (1), upper border (2) and side border (3). Each micro-volume wall is covered with a layer forming the membrane/electrodes basic element. Circulation of a first reactant to pass inside each micro-volume (10, 110) is enabled, whereas circulation of a second reactant to pass inside each micro-volume (10, 110) is enabled. The space between the micro-volumes (10, 110) may possibly be filled in with a porous material to stiffen the assembly. Applications for small sized fuel cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell with a stack comprising an electrolytic membrane (4), with front and rear faces (4a, 4b) on which first and second current collectors (13, 15) are respectively arranged, each comprising a metallic deposit and provided with a number of transverse passages. First and second electrodes (14, 16) are respectively arranged on the first and second current collectors (13, 15) such as to come into direct contact with the electrolytic membrane (4).

Abstract: The invention concerns an elementary cell (1) for a fuel cell comprising two electrodes between which an ion exchange membrane (20) is positioned. According to the invention, one of the two electrodes has a threaded surface carrying the ion exchange membrane (20), the assembly formed by this electrode and the ion exchange membrane (20) being able to be assembled by screwing onto a threaded surface belonging to the other of the two electrodes. The invention also concerns a fuel cell provided with a plurality of elementary cells (1).

Abstract: A microbattery has a support having a front face, a rear face, first and second current collectors arranged on the front face. A stack including a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte is arranged on the current collectors. The anode and cathode respectively contact the first and second current collectors. A protective layer covers the stack. The microbattery has connections in contact with the first and second current collectors, passing through the support from the front face to the rear face. The stack substantially covers of the front face of the support. A method for producing the mircobattery includes etching cavities, in the front face of the support, having a depth that is smaller than the thickness of the support, filing of the cavities with a conducting material and removing a layer of the rear face of the support to uncover the conducting material in the cavities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fuel cell, comprising a step of forming a plurality of holes (10) in at least two substrates (9); each hole is in the seat of an individual fuel cell, the said holes having a particular geometry, such as a shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid shape. The various individual cells are then electrically connected by networks of electrical connections (11, 12) and are supplied via a reactant distribution network, the assembly formed by a substrate (9), the cells and the networks constituting a base module (9?). Finally, at least two base modules (9?) are assembled, the individual cells of each base module being positioned facing the individual cells of the adjacent base module(s).

Abstract: The fuel cell (2) is of the kind comprising an anode (12) and a cathode (10) between which an electrolyte (18) is interposed. Solid bodies (20) storing a hydrogen mass, able to be decomposed by combustion, are associated to pyrotechnic means (24,26) to release the hydrogen and bring it into contact with the anode (12). Means (38) tap the ambient air to bring it into contact with the cathode (10). Firing of the pyrotechnic means (24,26) is placed under the control of addressing means (28) embedded in the appliance (2). The surplus water produced by the exchange between the hydrogen and the oxygen is resorbed by the temperature increase induced by combustion of the bodies (20). The solid bodies (20) are supported by an interchangeable card (22).

Abstract: A fuel cell comprises a thermal dissipation structure whose connecting element (8) is a shape memory alloy highly conductive at high temperatures, but much less so at low temperatures, which allows the cell to heat up quicker and reach its performance level.

Abstract: An alkali fuel cell comprises a solid stack consisting of a first electrode, a solid membrane conducting hydroxide ions and a second electrode, each electrode comprising an active layer that is in contact with the solid membrane. The material forming the active layer of each electrode comprises at least a catalytic element, an electronic conductive element and an element conducting hydroxide ions. The element conducting hydroxide ions is a polymer having vinylaromatic units comprising a quaternary ammonium function and a hydroxide ion OH? is associated with each quaternary ammonium function. One such alkali fuel cell is unaffected by carbonation and maintains good electrochemical performances.

Abstract: An alkaline fuel cell comprises at least one electrolyte having an anode disposed thereon. The anode is formed by a stack of a first thin layer and a second thin layer disposed between the electrolyte and the first thin layer. The first thin layer consists of aluminium or an aluminium alloy whereas the second thin layer preferably consists of zinc or a zinc alloy. The anode of the alkaline fuel cell is preferably produced by depositing the second thin layer designed to come into contact with the electrolyte, by physical vapor deposition, on a substrate formed by the aluminium or aluminium alloy first thin layer.

Abstract: A conducting composite material is composed of a kneaded and compressed mix. The mix includes (a) from 40 to 90% by volume of a flake graphite powder comprising a flake graphite type formed from graphite particle agglomerates bonded to each other and superposed such that their principal planes are parallel to each other, these agglomerates having a planar anisotropy with side dimensions between 10 ?m and 1 mm and between 5 and 50 ?m thick, (b) from 0 to 25% by volume of conducting fibres, and (c) from 10 to 40% by volume of an organic binder. This material can be used for making electrodes for fuel cells.

Abstract: The PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) type basic fuel cell element has a high efficient when only the protons migrate towards the cathode, excluding any other species that could react with the cathode. It is composed mainly of a silicon substrate (25) crossed by pipes (26), terminating on the bottom of a dish. The cathode (20) is deposited on the bottom of this dish, covered by a first layer of electrolyte (23). An internal part (32) of the anode is embedded between two layers (23) of electrolyte, while an external part (31) is placed on the upper part of it. The internal part (32) is preferably a grid or a foam such that fuel migrating towards the cathode can be consumed and protons can pass through.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell with a stack comprising an electrolytic membrane (4), with front and rear faces (4a, 4b) on which first and second current collectors (13, 15) are respectively arranged, each comprising a metallic deposit and provided with a number of transverse passages. First and second electrodes (14, 16) are respectively arranged on the first and second current collectors (13, 15) such as to come into direct contact with the electrolytic membrane (4).

Abstract: The fuel cell, generating electric power from oxygen and hydronium ions and comprising an anode (A), a magnetic cathode, comprising an active layer (2), and a proton electrolyte (1) between the anode and the cathode, comprises a network (3) of permanent magnets (4) designed to increase the diffusion of oxygen in the active layer. The centers of the magnets (4) of the network (3) of permanent magnets are preferably arranged with a two-dimensional distribution in a plane arranged at the interface between the electrolyte (1) and the active layer (2), the magnets being magnetized in parallel manner along the axis perpendicular to this plane. In this way, all the poles of one polarity (S) are surrounded by the active layer (2), all the poles of opposite polarity (N) being surrounded by the electrolyte (1).

Abstract: The basic module has a large functional surface area compared with its relatively small global surface area. It is composed mainly of a multitude of micro-volumes (10, 110) installed in a closed space between a lower border (1), upper border (2) and side border (3). Each micro-volume wall is covered with a layer forming the membrane/electrodes basic element. Circulation of a first reactant to pass inside each micro-volume (10, 110) is enabled, whereas circulation of a second reactant to pass inside each micro-volume (10, 110) is enabled. The space between the micro-volumes (10, 110) may possibly be filled in with a porous material to stiffen the assembly. Applications for small sized fuel cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns an elementary cell (1) for a fuel cell comprising two electrodes between which an ion exchange membrane (20) is positioned. According to the invention, one of the two electrodes has a threaded surface carrying the ion exchange membrane (20), the assembly formed by this electrode and the ion exchange membrane (20) being able to be assembled by screwing onto a threaded surface belonging to the other of the two electrodes. The invention also concerns a fuel cell provided with a plurality of elementary cells (1).

Abstract: The PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) type basic fuel cell element has a high efficiency, when only the protons migrate towards the cathode, excluding any other species that could react with the cathode. It is composed mainly of a silicon substrate (25) crossed by pipes (26), terminating on the bottom of a dish. The cathode (20) is deposited on the bottom of this dish, covered by a first layer of electrolyte (23). An internal part (32) of the anode is embedded between two layers (23) of electrolyte, while an external part (31) is placed on the upper part of it. The internal part (32) is preferably a grid or a foam such that fuel migrating towards the cathode can be consumed and protons can pass through.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fuel cell, comprising a step of forming a plurality of holes (10) in at least two substrates (9); each hole is in the seat of an individual fuel cell, the said holes having a particular geometry, such as a shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid shape. The various individual cells are then electrically connected by networks of electrical connections (11, 12) and are supplied via a reactant distribution network, the assembly formed by a substrate (9), the cells and the networks constituting a base module (9?). Finally, at least two base modules (9?) are assembled, the individual cells of each base module being positioned facing the individual cells of the adjacent base module(s).