Patents by Inventor Michael Andrew Yandrasits
Michael Andrew Yandrasits 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).
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Patent number: 9893373Abstract: An electrolyte membrane having a proton conducting polymer reinforced with a nanofiber mat made from a nanofiber comprising a fiber material selected from polymers and polymer blends; wherein the fiber material has a fiber material proton conductivity; wherein the proton conducting polymer has a proton conducting polymer conductivity; and wherein the fiber material proton conductivity is less than the proton conducting polymer conductivity, and methods of making. In some embodiments, the nanofiber further comprises a proton conducting polymer.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Ji-Hwa Lee, Youngdon Yi, Daniel McGregor Pierpont, Steven Joseph Hamrock, Mark Albert Schonewill
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Patent number: 8343682Abstract: A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising the steps of: i) selecting a fluid transport layer sheet material; ii) selecting a target level of compression Ct % for use of said fluid transport layer sheet material in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; iii) measuring the pressure Pt for which the fluid transport layer sheet material achieves compression of Ct %; iv) positioning between the platens of a press a membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) an anode catalyst material; c) a cathode catalyst material; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; and e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; v) depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane; vi) compressing the membrane electrode assembly to a pressing pressure Pp whichType: GrantFiled: April 4, 2007Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Michael Andrew Yandrasits
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Patent number: 8119302Abstract: A method is provided for making an edge-sealed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: i) providing a suitable membrane electrode assembly lay-up; ii) positioning a suitable annular layer of a thermoplastic; and iii) applying pressure and heat sufficient to melt impregnate the thermoplastic into the fluid transport layer or layers of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up and simultaneously bond the fluid transport layer or layers to the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up may be perforated in its outer sealing area. Membrane electrode assemblies made according to the method of the present invention are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael Andrew Yandrasits, David Adrian Ylitalo, Douglas Willard Kado
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Patent number: 7553578Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly by simultaneously binding together the parts of the MEA, impregnating uncured elastomeric gasket material into the outer edge portions of each fluid transport layer, and substantially curing the uncured elastomeric gasket material so as to form anode-side and cathode-side gaskets. In order to form a raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern on the contact face of each gasket, patterning plates bearing a negative relief of a raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern may be positioned between the press platens and the uncured elastomeric gasket material.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Jimmy Minh Le, Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Paul Michael Boucher
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Patent number: 7217471Abstract: A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell MEA comprising the steps of: selecting an FTL sheet material; selecting a target level of compression C % for use of said FTL sheet material in a fuel cell MEA; measuring die pressure Pt for which the FTL sheet material achieves compression of Ct %; positioning between the platens of a press an MEA comprising: a PEM; an anode catalyst material; a cathode catalyst material; an anode-side FTL comprising the selected FTL sheet material; and a cathode-side FTL comprising the selected FTL sheet material; depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the PEM; compressing the MEA to a pressing pressure Pp which is between 90% and 110% of Pt; and substantially fixing the gasket material so as to form a gasketed fuel cell MEA.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Michael Andrew Yandrasits
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Patent number: 7087339Abstract: The present invention provides a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising: a polymer electrolyte membrane; layers of anode and cathode catalyst; anode-side and cathode-side fluid transport layer; and anode-side and cathode-side gaskets; where the gaskets comprise an elastomeric gasket material which is impregnated into the outer edge portions of the respective fluid transport layer; and where at least a portion of the contact face of each gasket bears a raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern. The gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly according to the present invention may additionally comprise a rigid, non-elastomeric anode-side and cathode-side shims positioned between at least a portion of the gasket and the polymer electrolyte membrane. The raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern preferably comprises ridges which meet at joining points, wherein no more than three ridges meet at any one joining point.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Jimmy Minh Le, Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Paul Michael Boucher
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Patent number: 6979383Abstract: A method is provided for making an edge-sealed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: i) providing a suitable membrane electrode assembly lay-up; ii) positioning a suitable annular layer of a thermoplastic; and iii) applying pressure and heat sufficient to melt impregnate the thermoplastic into the fluid transport layer or layers of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up and simultaneously bond the fluid transport layer or layers to the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up may be perforated in its outer sealing area. Membrane electrode assemblies made according to the method of the present invention are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael Andrew Yandrasits, David Adrian Ylitalo, Douglas Willard Kado
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Publication number: 20050263246Abstract: A method is provided for making an edge-sealed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: i) providing a suitable membrane electrode assembly lay-up; ii) positioning a suitable annular layer of a thermoplastic; and iii) applying pressure and heat sufficient to melt impregnate the thermoplastic into the fluid transport layer or layers of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up and simultaneously bond the fluid transport layer or layers to the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up may be perforated in its outer sealing area. Membrane electrode assemblies made according to the method of the present invention are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2005Publication date: December 1, 2005Inventors: Michael Andrew Yandrasits, David Adrian Ylitalo, Douglas Willard Kado
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Publication number: 20040112532Abstract: A method is provided for making an edge-sealed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising the steps of: i) providing a suitable membrane electrode assembly lay-up; ii) positioning a suitable annular layer of a thermoplastic; and iii) applying pressure and heat sufficient to melt impregnate the thermoplastic into the fluid transport layer or layers of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up and simultaneously bond the fluid transport layer or layers to the polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the membrane electrode assembly lay-up may be perforated in its outer sealing area. Membrane electrode assemblies made according to the method of the present invention are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael Andrew Yandrasits, David Adrian Ylitalo, Douglas Willard Kado
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Publication number: 20030215690Abstract: A method is provided for making a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising the steps of: i) selecting a fluid transport layer sheet material; ii) selecting a target level of compression Ct % for use of said fluid transport layer sheet material in a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; iii) measuring the pressure Pt for which the fluid transport layer sheet material achieves compression of Ct %; iv) positioning between the platens of a press a membrane electrode assembly comprising: a) a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) an anode catalyst material; c) a cathode catalyst material; d) an anode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; and e) a cathode-side fluid transport layer comprising the selected fluid transport layer sheet material; v) depositing a gasket material in the outer edge portions of the anode and cathode faces of the polymer electrolyte membrane; vi) compressing the membrane electrode assembly to a pressing pressure Pp whichType: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2002Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Michael Andrew Yandrasits
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Publication number: 20030211378Abstract: The present invention provides a gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly comprising: a polymer electrolyte membrane; layers of anode and cathode catalyst; anode-side and cathode-side fluid transport layer; and anode-side and cathode-side gaskets; where the gaskets comprise an elastomeric gasket material which is impregnated into the outer edge portions of the respective fluid transport layer; and where at least a portion of the contact face of each gasket bears a raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern. The gasketed fuel cell membrane electrode assembly according to the present invention may additionally comprise a rigid, non-elastomeric anode-side and cathode-side shims positioned between at least a portion of the gasket and the polymer electrolyte membrane. The raised-ridge microstructured contact pattern preferably comprises ridges which meet at joining points, wherein no more than three ridges meet at any one joining point.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2002Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Allen Wald, Jimmy Minh Le, Michael Andrew Yandrasits, Paul Michael Boucher