Patents by Inventor Gayatri Vyas

Gayatri Vyas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Ultra-low loadings of Au for stainless steel bipolar plates
    Patent number: 7625654
    Abstract: An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for a fuel cell which comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a flow field for distributing fluid along a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive coating on the surface which comprises a noble metal, desirably Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, Os, and preferably Au.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas, Yang-Tse Cheng, Mahmoud H Abd Elhamid, Youssef M Mikhail
  • Hydrophilic fuel cell bipolar plate having a plasma induced polymerization coating
    Patent number: 7622211
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrically conductive element is provided with a polymeric surface comprising a flow field, at least a part of the flow field having a grafted, permanently hydrophilic, polymer coating. The element is made by applying a layer of a monomer mixture of a hydrophilic, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and a crosslinking monomer to the electrically conductive element surface and polymerizing the applied monomer mixture layer with a plasma whereby the polymerized layer is grafted to the polymeric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas, Tao Xie, Thomas A. Trabold
  • BIPOLAR PLATE WITH INLET AND OUTLET WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURES
    Publication number: 20090286133
    Abstract: A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a fuel cell plate having hydrophobic portions adjacent an inlet and an outlet formed therein, and a hydrophilic portion formed in the flow channels of the fuel cell plate adjacent the hydrophobic portions, wherein the hydrophilic portion and the hydrophobic portion facilitate the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas A. Trabold, Jon P. Owejan, Steven J. Spencer, Jeffrey A. Rock, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • BIPOLAR PLATE COATING ARCHITECTURE FOR FUEL CELLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090286118
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a method including providing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell having a reactant gas flow field defined therein by a plurality of lands and at least one channel, and depositing a low contact resistant material selectively over portions of the lands leaving portions of the lands uncovered by the low contact resistant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Youssef M. Mikhail, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
  • METHOD OF COATING FUEL CELL COMPONENTS FOR WATER REMOVAL
    Publication number: 20090238989
    Abstract: A method for coating a fuel cell component is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a fuel cell component, and forming a coating on a surface of the fuel cell component with a plasma jet. The step of forming the coating may include applying a coating precursor to a surface of the fuel cell component and then reacting the coating precursor with the plasma jet to form the coating. The step of forming the coating may also include growing the coating on the surface of the fuel cell component by delivering the plasma jet containing the coating precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Youssef M. Mikhail, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Jeffrey M. Guzda
  • LOW COST FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090214927
    Abstract: Fuel cell bipolar plates are made by depositing a pinhole free corrosion resistant and/or a conductive layer on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. In one embodiment, a conductive layer is deposited on an anodized metal plate using atomic layer deposition method. In another embodiment, at least one corrosion resistant metal oxide layer and at least one conductive layer are deposited on a metal plate individually using atomic layer deposition method. In yet another embodiment, a corrosion resistant and conductive metal oxynitride layer is deposited on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Thomas A. Trabold, Mahmoud H. ABD Elhamid
  • FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE WITH VARIABLE SURFACE PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20090191351
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a first fuel cell component comprising a first face, a first hydrophilic coating overlying at least a first portion of the first face, and a second less hydrophilic coating overlying at least a second portion of the first face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jon P. Owejan, Thomas A. Trabold, Thomas W. Tighe, Reena L. Datta, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • CORROSION RESISTANT METAL COMPOSITE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090176142
    Abstract: A metal composite for use in electrochemical devices is disclosed. The metal composite comprises a stainless steel interior component and a deposited nitrided metal exterior layer, wherein the nitrided exterior layer has lower electric contact resistance and greater corrosion resistance than the stainless steel interior component. A bipolar plate made of such metal composite and methods of producing the metal composite and bipolar plate are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Feng Zhong, Richard H. Blunk, Daniel J. Lisi
  • PASSIVATED METALLIC BIPOLAR PLATES AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090176139
    Abstract: A method including providing a substrate; treating the substrate to form a passive layer, wherein the passive layer has a thickness of at least 3 nm; and depositing an electrically conductive coating over the substrate, wherein the coating has a thickness of about 0.1 nm to about 50 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TEHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Youssef M. Mikhail
  • Low contact resistance bonding method for bipolar plates in a PEM fuel cell
    Patent number: 7550174
    Abstract: A separator assembly for use in a stack of electrochemical cells is provided, having a first conductive metallic substrate with a first surface and a second conductive metallic substrate with a second surface, wherein each of the first and second surfaces are overlaid with an ultra-thin electrically conductive metal coating. The first and second surfaces form electrically conductive paths at regions where the metal coating of the first and second layer contact one another. The contact of the surfaces overlaid with metal coating is sufficient to join the first and second substrates to one another. Preferred metal coatings comprise gold (Au). Methods of making such separator assemblies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas, Michael Budinski, Brian K Brady, Michael K Lukitsch, Harald Schlag
  • Fuel cell component having a durable conductive and hydrophilic coating
    Patent number: 7550222
    Abstract: A fuel cell component having a coating thereon including binary and ternary nitrides and oxynitrides of elements of IVb and Vb groups of the periodic table of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas, Thomas A. Trabold, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Roy Gordon, Dawen Pang
  • Method of making a fuel cell component using an easily removed mask
    Patent number: 7531100
    Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell component using a mask, which is removed after further processing to yield a surface with variable properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L Peters, Thomas A. Trabold, Gayatri Vyas, Reena L. Datta, Jeffrey M Guzda
  • Bipolar Plate Hydrophilic Treatment for Stable Fuel Cell Stack Operation at Low Power
    Publication number: 20090117443
    Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Trabold, Steven R. Falta, Pinkhas A. Rapaport, Reena L. Datta, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • STABLE HYDROPHILIC COATING FOR FUEL CELL COLLECTOR PLATES
    Publication number: 20090092874
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a product including a fuel cell component including a coating thereon, the coating comprising nanoparticles comprising titanium oxide or titanium containing compounds derived therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Curtis A. Wong
  • NANOTUBE ASSEMBLY, BIPOLAR PLATE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090087716
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an assembly of metal oxide comprising valve metal oxide nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Curtis A. Wong, Youssef M. Mikhail, Michael J. Lukitsch
  • PEM FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20090053572
    Abstract: A product including a polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrode over the membrane, a gas diffusion media layer over the electrode, and a hydrophilic layer over the gas diffusion media layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • BIPOLAR PLATE WITH MICROGROOVES FOR IMPROVED WATER TRANSPORT
    Publication number: 20090011310
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Trabold, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Yan Zhang, Keith E. Newman, Jeffrey A. Rock, Steven J. Spencer
  • MICROTEXTURED FUEL CELL ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20080248368
    Abstract: Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Richard H. Blunk, Thomas A. Trabold, Reena L. Datta, Keith E. Newman
  • LOW CONTACT RESISTANCE BONDING METHOD FOR BIPOLAR PLATES IN A PEM FUEL CELL
    Publication number: 20080134493
    Abstract: A separator assembly for use in a stack of electrochemical cells is provided, having a first conductive metallic substrate with a first surface and a second conductive metallic substrate with a second surface, wherein each of the first and second surfaces are overlaid with an ultra-thin electrically conductive metal coating. The first and second surfaces form electrically conductive paths at regions where the metal coating of the first and second layer contact one another. The contact of the surfaces overlaid with metal coating is sufficient to join the first and second substrates to one another. Preferred metal coatings comprise gold (Au). Methods of making such separator assemblies are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas, Michael Budinski, Brian K. Brady, Michael J. Lukitsch, Harald Schlag
  • INEXPENSIVE APPROACH FOR COATING BIPOLAR PLATES FOR PEM FUEL CELLS
    Publication number: 20080138687
    Abstract: A metallic bipolar plate for use in a fuel cell includes a metallic bipolar plate having one or more channels and a contact surface. The contact surface has a surface roughness defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys wherein at least a portion of the valleys are filled with an electrically conductive material. The contact surface is adapted to contact the anode diffusion layer or the cathode diffusion layer such that the contact resistance occurring at this surface is lower than when the electrically conductive material is not present. A fuel cell incorporating the metallic bipolar plate is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech