Patents by Inventor Graham A. Hards

Graham A. Hards 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).

  • Manufacture of electrodes
    Patent number: 5871860
    Abstract: An electrode suitable for use in fuel cells, for example in solid polymer fuel cells, comprises a non-uniform electrode layer and has improved electrochemical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Jonathan C Frost, John M Gascoyne, Graham A Hards, David P Wilkinson, Keith B Prater
  • Electrode
    Patent number: 5795669
    Abstract: An electrode comprises a first catalytic component active at gas-phase reaction sites and a second catalytic component active at electrochemical reaction sites wherein each catalytic component is present either as a separate layer, or a single mixed layer or a combination of a separate layer and a single mixed layer. The electrode has an improved tolerance to poisons such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignees: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company, Ballard Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wilkinson, Henry H. Voss, Keith B. Prater, Graham A. Hards, Thomas R. Ralph, David Thompsett
  • Manufacture of electrodes
    Patent number: 5702839
    Abstract: An electrode suitable for use in fuel cells, for example in solid polymer fuel cells, comprises a non-uniform electrode layer and has improved electrochemical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Frost, John M. Gascoyne, Graham A. Hards, David P. Wilkinson, Keith B. Prater
  • Porous electrode for electrode assemblies in a fuel cell
    Patent number: 5501915
    Abstract: A porous electrode suitable for use in a membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer fuel cells comprises a highly dispersed precious metal catalyst on particulate carbon impregnated with proton conducting polymer, and, a further component comprising hydrophobic polymer and a dispersion of particulate carbon, the loading of precious metal being 0.011-1.0 mg/cm.sup.2 of geometric electrode area. Said electrode demonstrates high effective platinum surface area and power density output when fabricated into a membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Graham A. Hards, Thomas R. Ralph
  • Catalyst material
    Patent number: 5316990
    Abstract: An improved catalyst material is derived from a precious metal-containing macrocyclic compound precursor, which contains precious metal in zero oxidation state. The material may be produced by activating the compound, for example by a voltage sweep. The material offers useful improvements in activity and resistance to de-activation, when used as a fuel cell catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Susan J. Cooper, Graham A. Hards, David Thompsett
  • Catalyst material
    Patent number: 5068161
    Abstract: An electrocatalytic material comprises an alloy of platinum with another element, supported on a conductive carbon support, the platinum loading being at 20 to 60 wt % and the ECA of the alloy being greater than 35 m.sup.2 /g, is especially suitable for use in phosphoric acid fuel cells, and demonstrates unexpectedly high performance with high Pt loadings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Lindsey Keck, Jeffrey Buchanan, Graham A. Hards