Abstract: Ways of making a solid-state electrolyte are provided. Various energy storage devices, such as solid-state lithium-ion batteries, can incorporate the solid-state electrolyte. The solid-state electrolyte can be manufactured by dissolving a fluoropolymer with a solvent and combining the dissolved fluoropolymer with an ionic liquid. A lithium salt can be added to the combined fluoropolymer and ionic liquid to form an electrolyte solution, which can be used to impregnate a porous membrane to provide the solid-state electrolyte.

Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel cell humidifier can include steps of providing a first humidifier plate and a humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can have a first top plate surface. The humidifier membrane can have a bottom membrane surface. The bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane can be disposed on the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate. The first humidifier plate can be partially melted. This can permit the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate to permeate into the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can be cooled, which can fuse the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate with the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane.

Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel cell humidifier can include steps of providing a first humidifier plate and a humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can have a first top plate surface. The humidifier membrane can have a bottom membrane surface. The bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane can be disposed on the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate. The first humidifier plate can be partially melted. This can permit the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate to permeate into the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can be cooled, which can fuse the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate with the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a metal layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a cathode layer disposed in the metal layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a reinforced lithiated composite electrolyte layer disposed on the cathode layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a lithiated ionomer coating layer disposed on the reinforced lithiated composite electrolyte layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include an anode layer disposed on the lithiated ionomer coating layer.

Abstract: Methods of making an electrolyte for a solid-state battery can include dissolving a lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid in a solvent to form a mixture, stirring the mixture using shear mixing, and heating the mixture to form an electrolyte gel. Methods of making a cathode electrode for a solid-state battery include forming an electrode composition including active materials, stirring the mixture using sheer mixing to reduce particle size and to form an ink, coating the ink on aluminum foil using one of doctor blade, micro gravure, and slot-die, and drying. The electrolyte is applied as an overlayer on the electrode.

Abstract: A modular boost converter includes a fuel cell, a modular boost converter, a battery, a motor, and a capacitor. The modular boost converter includes a plurality of modules. Each of the plurality of modules include a boost system. Only one converter is necessary to utilize each of the fuel cell and the capacitor. The single converter can have a capacity to convert power greater than the energy of the fuel cell, but the total output power of the converter is less than the total energy provided by the fuel cell and the capacitor combined. The modular boost converter utilizes internal module switching to selectively draw energy from at least one of the fuel cell and the capacitor.

Abstract: Methods of making a lithiated composite fiber include mixing lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid with a suitable polymer to form a polymer solution and electrospinning the polymer solution to generate a lithiated fiber. The lithiated fiber can be used to make positive electrodes. Methods of making a positive electrode with lithiated fiber include mixing an active material, lithiated fiber, an electrically conductive additive, and a solvent to form a solution and processing the solution. The processed solution can be coated on an aluminum sheet.

Abstract: Methods of making a solid state electrode and electrolyte for an all solid state lithium battery include mixing a lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid with a solvent to form an electrolyte polymer solution, mixing lithiated perfluorosulfonic with garnet type oxide polymer-composite solution, preparing a cathode electrode, coating the cathode electrode with the electrolyte polymer solution to form an electrolyte layer, laminating a reinforcement layer over the electrolyte polymer solution coated onto the cathode electrode, and coating the reinforcement layer with electrolyte polymer solution to form another electrolyte layer to form the solid state electrode and electrolyte.

Abstract: A porous ionically and electronically conductive matrix for all solid-state lithium batteries is deposited on a carbon fiber paper. The ionically and electronically conductive matrix can be deposited on the carbon fiber paper by one of electrospinning and without electrospinning for electrode coating and deposition. The matrix facilitates a loading of active material of a cathode electrode structure.

Abstract: Ways of making a solid-state lithium-ion battery having a gradient based electrode structure include a separator, the separator comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a positive electrode structure comprising a two-layer gradient, the positive electrode structure alongside the separator on the first side of the separator, an aluminum current collector on the first side of the separator and next to the positive electrode structure, a lithium layer alongside the separator on the second side of the separator, and a copper current collector on the second side of the separator and next to the lithium layer.

Abstract: A hybrid bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell includes a formed cathode half plate and a stamped metal anode half plate. The stamped metal anode half plate is nested with and affixed to the formed cathode half plate. Each of the half plates has a reactant side and a coolant side, a feed region, and a header with a plurality of header apertures. The coolant side of the formed cathode half plate has support features that can be different from and need not correspond with cathode flow channels formed on the opposite reactant side. The coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate has lands corresponding with anode channels formed on the opposite oxidant side. The lands define a plurality of coolant channels on the coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate and abut the coolant side of the formed cathode half plate.

Abstract: A hybrid bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell includes a formed cathode half plate and a stamped metal anode half plate. The stamped metal anode half plate is unnested with and affixed to the formed cathode half plate. Each of the half plates has a reactant side and a coolant side, a feed region, and a header with a plurality of header apertures. The coolant side of the formed cathode half plate need not correspond with cathode flow channels formed on the opposite reactant side. The coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate has lands corresponding with anode channels formed on the opposite oxidant side. The lands define a plurality of coolant channels on the coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate and abut the coolant side of the formed cathode half plate.

Abstract: Making a composite solid polymer electrolyte includes mixing a slurry of lithiated ionomer and a doped inorganic ceramic electrolyte and coating the slurry onto a lithiated ionomer membrane. The lithiated ionomer can be provided by exchanging protons of an ionomer membrane with lithium ions to form a lithiated ionomer membrane and dissolving the lithiated ionomer membrane to produce the lithiated ionomer. Various composite solid polymer electrolytes can be made for use in solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Ways of making a dispersion for use in a solid-state electrolyte include lithiating an ionomer by heating and dissoluting to form the dispersion. An ionic liquid and ceramic particles can be added to the dispersion. Ways of making a reinforced solid-state electrolyte for a solid-state lithium-ion battery include infusing a porous membrane with the dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hydrogen supply apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus, which can protect a fuel cell and extend the service life of a fuel cell. The hydrogen supply apparatus includes a large-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus, a small-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus, a second shut-off valve, and a pressure reducing valve, etc. The small-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus is automatically filled with fuel gas when the fuel cell is operating, and when the fuel cell is in standby mode, fuel gas is transferred into the fuel cell by controlling the opening and closing time and the period of the second shut-off valve, so that protection of the fuel cell and extension of the fuel cell life are realized.

Abstract: A modular boost converter includes a fuel cell, a modular boost converter, a battery, a motor, and a capacitor. The modular boost converter includes a plurality of modules. Each of the plurality of modules include a boost system. Only one converter is necessary to utilize each of the fuel cell and the capacitor. The single converter can have a capacity to convert power greater than the energy of the fuel cell, but the total output power of the converter is less than the total energy provided by the fuel cell and the capacitor combined. The modular boost converter utilizes internal module switching to selectively draw energy from at least one of the fuel cell and the capacitor.

Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel cell humidifier can include steps of providing a first humidifier plate and a humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can have a first top plate surface. The humidifier membrane can have a bottom membrane surface. The bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane can be disposed on the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate. The first humidifier plate can be partially melted. This can permit the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate to permeate into the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can be cooled, which can fuse the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate with the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane.

Abstract: A system for assembling a fuel cell stack can include a plurality of fuel cells, a dispenser, and a holder. The dispenser can be configured to successively transfer the fuel cells to the holder. The holder can be configured to successively receive the fuel cells. Each of the fuel cells can be received at a constant position along a first axis. The holder can also be configured to index each received fuel cell by a predetermined distance along the first axis, thereby forming the fuel cell stack. In addition, the holder can compress the fuel cell stack after the fuel cell stack is formed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method for operating the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a controller, a switch, an oxygen supply device and an output circuit. The fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode. The fuel cell is a cathode enclosed fuel cell. The controller is used to drive control signal for adjusting the electrochemical metering ratio of oxygen flow, supplied by the oxygen supply device, to output current, wherein the electrochemical metering ratio is ‘a’, and ‘a’ satisfies: 1?a?4. The method of the present disclosure uses the fuel cell system of the present disclosure, which optimizes the performance of a fuel cell and makes the output interruption time very short; hence it is highly beneficial for providing a more stable output.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hydrogen supply apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus, which can protect a fuel cell and extend the service life of a fuel cell. The hydrogen supply apparatus includes a large-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus, a small-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus, a second shut-off valve, and a pressure reducing valve, etc. The small-capacity hydrogen storage apparatus is automatically filled with fuel gas when the fuel cell is operating, and when the fuel cell is in standby mode, fuel gas is transferred into the fuel cell by controlling the opening and closing time and the period of the second shut-off valve, so that protection of the fuel cell and extension of the fuel cell life are realized.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method for operating the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a controller, a switch, an oxygen supply device and an output circuit. The fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode. The fuel cell is a cathode enclosed fuel cell. The controller is used to drive control signal for adjusting the electrochemical metering ratio of oxygen flow, supplied by the oxygen supply device, to output current, wherein the electrochemical metering ratio is ‘a’, and ‘a’ satisfies: 1?a?4. The method of the present disclosure uses the fuel cell system of the present disclosure, which optimizes the performance of a fuel cell and makes the output interruption time very short; hence it is highly beneficial for providing a more stable output.