Patents by Inventor Swathy Swathirajan
Swathy Swathirajan 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: 9401523Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a product comprising: a membrane electrolyte having a first face and a second face; and an anode over the first face and a cathode over the second face, and wherein the anode has a catalyst loading that is less than 50% of the catalyst loading of the cathode.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Swathy Swathirajan, Belabbes Merzougui, Paul Taichiang Yu
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Patent number: 8557485Abstract: The incorporation of tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials into a composite fuel cell anode can be helpful in preserving the carbon catalyst support materials in the fuel cell cathode during periods of hydrogen starvation. Preferred examples of such tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials are tungsten oxides and tungsten silicides. These materials, when physically mixed with catalyst-loaded carbon support particles in a composite anode, have shown the ability to promote hydrogen storage in amounts that, during a disruption of hydrogen gas flow, can postpone an anodic potential excursion into the oxygen evolution region for a period of at least several seconds.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ion C. Halalay, Belabbes Merzougui, Gregory C. Garabedian, Michael P. Balogh, Swathy Swathirajan
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Patent number: 8383293Abstract: An electrocatalyst for fuel cell applications includes a catalyst support and a noble metal or noble metal-based alloy catalyst supported upon the catalyst support. The catalyst support characteristically includes a Group IV-VI transition metal silicide with or without the mixing of carbon. A fuel cell incorporating the electrocatalyst into the anode and/or cathode is disclosed. Such fuel cell exhibit improved cycling and operating performance.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Jon C. Halalay, John T. Johnson, Gregory C. Garabedian, Michael P. Balogh, Swathy Swathirajan
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Patent number: 7767330Abstract: The durability of a fuel cell having a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one surface and an oxygen-reducing cathode on the other surface is improved by replacing conductive carbon matrix materials in an electrode with a matrix of electrically conductive metal compound particles. The electrode includes a catalyst supported on a nanosize metal oxides and electrically conductive nanosize matrix particles of a metal compound. One or more metal compounds such as a boride, carbide, nitride, silicide, carbonitride, oxyboride, oxycarbide, or oxynitride of a metal such as cobalt, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, neodymium niobium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium is suitable. For example, the combination of platinum particles deposited on titanium dioxide support particles mixed in a conductive matrix of titanium carbide particles provides an electrode with good oxygen reduction capability and corrosion resistance in an acid environment.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Ion C. Halalay, Michael K. Carpenter, Swathy Swathirajan
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Publication number: 20100151295Abstract: The incorporation of tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials into a composite fuel cell anode can be helpful in preserving the carbon catalyst support materials in the fuel cell cathode during periods of hydrogen starvation. Preferred examples of such tungsten-containing hydrogen spillover materials are tungsten oxides and tungsten silicides. These materials, when physically mixed with catalyst-loaded carbon support particles in a composite anode, have shown the ability to promote hydrogen storage in amounts that, during a disruption of hydrogen gas flow, can postpone an anodic potential excursion into the oxygen evolution region for a period of at least several seconds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Belabbes Merzougui, Gregory C. Garabedian, Michael P. Balogh, Swathy Swathirajan
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Patent number: 7622216Abstract: The durability of a fuel cell having a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one surface and an oxygen-reducing cathode on the other surface is improved by substituting electrically conductive titanium carbide or titanium nitride particles for carbon particles as oxygen-reducing and hydrogen-oxidizing catalyst supports. For example nanosize platinum particles deposited on nanosize titanium carbide or titanium nitride support particles provide good oxygen reduction capability and are corrosion resistant in an acid environment. It is preferred that the catalyst-on-titanium carbide (nitride) particles be mixed with non-catalyst-bearing carbon in the electrode material for improved electrode performance.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Belabbes Merzougui, Michael K. Carpenter, Swathy Swathirajan, Gregory C. Garabedian, Andrew M. Mance, Mei Cai
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Publication number: 20080166599Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a product comprising: a membrane electrolyte having a first face and a second face; and an anode over the first face and a cathode over the second face, and wherein the anode has a catalyst loading that is less than 50% of the catalyst loading of the cathode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Swathy Swathirajan, Belabbes Merzougui, Paul Taichiang Yu
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Publication number: 20080118818Abstract: An electrocatalyst for fuel cell applications includes a catalyst support and a noble metal or noble metal-based alloy catalyst supported upon the catalyst support. The catalyst support characteristically includes a Group IV-VI transition metal silicide with or without the mixing of carbon. A fuel cell incorporating the electrocatalyst into the anode and/or cathode is disclosed. Such fuel cell exhibit improved cycling and operating performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Ion C. Halalay, John T. Johnson, Gregory C. Garabedian, Michael P. Balogh, Swathy Swathirajan
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Patent number: 7220501Abstract: An integrated hybrid electrochemical device comprising a nickel-metal hydride battery and an alkaline H2—O2/air fuel cell together sharing a common alkali metal electrolyte in a housing common to both. In one embodiment, the NiMH battery and alkaline fuel cell electrodes share only the same electrolyte. According to another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes not only share the same electrolyte, but also share common reactant supply plenums as well. In another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes share a common electrolyte, common reactant (i.e. H2 and O2 or air) supply plenums, and common current collectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Swathy Swathirajan
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Publication number: 20060257719Abstract: The durability of a PEM fuel cell is improved by replacing carbon catalyst support materials in the cathode (and optionally both electrodes) with a titanium oxide support. The electrode thus preferably contains noble metal containing catalyst particles carried on catalyst support particles of titanium oxide. The catalyst-bearing titanium oxide particles are mixed with electrically conductive material such as carbon particles. The combination of platinum particles deposited on titanium dioxide support particles and mixed with conductive carbon particles provides an electrode with good oxygen reduction capacity and corrosion resistance in an acid environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2006Publication date: November 16, 2006Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Michael Carpenter, Swathy Swathirajan
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Publication number: 20060251954Abstract: The durability of a fuel cell having a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one surface and an oxygen-reducing cathode on the other surface is improved by replacing conductive carbon matrix materials in an electrode with a matrix of electrically conductive metal compound particles. The electrode includes a catalyst supported on a nanosize metal oxides and electrically conductive nanosize matrix particles of a metal compound. One or more metal compounds such as a boride, carbide, nitride, silicide, carbonitride, oxyboride, oxycarbide, or oxynitride of a metal such as cobalt, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, neodymium niobium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium is suitable. For example, the combination of platinum particles deposited on titanium dioxide support particles mixed in a conductive matrix of titanium carbide particles provides an electrode with good oxygen reduction capability and corrosion resistance in an acid environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2006Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Ion Halalay, Michael Carpenter, Swathy Swathirajan
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Publication number: 20060246344Abstract: The durability of a fuel cell having a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one surface and an oxygen-reducing cathode on the other surface is improved by substituting electrically conductive titanium carbide or titanium nitride particles for carbon particles as oxygen-reducing and hydrogen-oxidizing catalyst supports. For example nanosize platinum particles deposited on nanosize titanium carbide or titanium nitride support particles provide good oxygen reduction capability and are corrosion resistant in an acid environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Ion Halalay, Belabbes Merzougui, Michael Carpenter, Swathy Swathirajan, Gregory Garabedian, Andrew Mance, Mei Cai
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Publication number: 20050202290Abstract: An integrated hybrid electrochemical device comprising a nickel-metal hydride battery and an alkaline H2—O2/air fuel cell together sharing a common alkali metal electrolyte in a housing common to both. In one embodiment, the NiMH battery and alkaline fuel cell electrodes share only the same electrolyte. According to another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes not only share the same electrolyte, but also share common reactant supply plenums as well. In another embodiment, the battery and fuel cell electrodes share a common electrolyte, common reactant (i.e. H2 and O2 or air) supply plenums, and common current collectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Swathy Swathirajan
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Patent number: 6521381Abstract: An electrode structure for an electrochemical cell is formed by forming a mixture comprising proton-conductive material and carbon particles, applying the mixture to a current collector sheet to form a film, and dispersing a catalyst in the form of metallic polycrystals in a thin layer on the exposed surface of the film. This method produces an electrode having significantly increased catalyst utilization, dramatic reduction of catalyst loading, and which is consequently less expensive to produce than electrodes produced by prior art methods. A combination electrolyte and electrode structure for an electrochemical cell is produced by hot-pressing an electrode of the above-described composition into contact with a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1999Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Gayatri Vyas, Swathy Swathirajan, Yang T. Cheng, Youssef M. Mikhail
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Patent number: 6277513Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure comprising a current collector sheet and first and second layers of electrode material. Together, the layers improve catalyst utilization and water management.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1999Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Swathy Swathirajan, Youssef M. Mikhail
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Patent number: 5624769Abstract: The present invention contemplates a PEM fuel cell having electrical contact elements (including bipolar plates/septums) comprising a titanium nitride coated light weight metal (e.g., Al or Ti) core, having a passivating, protective metal layer intermediate the core and the titanium nitride. The protective layer forms a barrier to further oxidation/corrosion when exposed to the fuel cell's operating environment. Stainless steels rich in CR, Ni, and Mo are particularly effective protective interlayers.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Yang Li, Wen-Jin Meng, Swathy Swathirajan, Stephen J. Harris, Gary L. Doll
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Patent number: RE37284Abstract: The present invention contemplates a PEM fuel cell having electrical contact elements (including bipolar plates/septums) comprising a titanium nitride coated light weight metal (e.g., Al or Ti) core, having a passivating, protective metal layer intermediate the core and the titanium nitride. The protective layer forms a barrier to further oxidation/corrosion when exposed to the fuel cell's operating environment. Stainless steels rich in CR, Ni, and Mo are particularly effective protective interlayers.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Yang Li, Wen-Jin Meng, Swathy Swathirajan, Stephen Joel Harris, Gary Lynn Doll