Fuel Cell Part Patents (Class 427/115)
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Patent number: 12183932Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrochemical device comprising a tube having an outer surface defining an interior volume of the tube; a first hollow fiber positioned in the interior volume of the tube, the first hollow fiber comprising: a first membrane defining an interior volume of the first hollow fiber; one or more first electrodes positioned in the interior volume of the first hollow fiber; and at least a first portion of a first electrolyte fluid positioned in the interior volume of the first hollow fiber; one or more second electrodes positioned in the interior volume of the tube and outside of the interior volume of the first hollow fiber; and a second electrolyte fluid positioned in the interior volume of the tube and outside of the interior volume of the first hollow fiber. Also disclosed herein are methods of making an electrochemical device.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventors: Nian Liu, Yutong Wu, Fengyi Zhang, Ryan P. Lively
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Patent number: 12002969Abstract: Provided is a method for producing metal nanoparticles, which enables metal nanoparticles to be more conveniently produced. The method for producing metal nanoparticles includes spraying and drying a mixture to form metal nanoparticles, the mixture containing a metal salt and at least one solvent selected from alcohols having 1 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Yano, Tomotaka Saito, Kota Iwasaki
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Patent number: 11961510Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes following units. The acquisition unit acquires first training data including a combination of a voice feature quantity and a correct phoneme label of the voice feature quantity. The training unit trains an acoustic model using the first training data in a manner to output the correct phoneme label in response to input of the voice feature quantity. The extraction unit extracts from the first training data, second training data including voice feature quantities of at least one of a keyword, a sub-word, a syllable, or a phoneme included in the keyword. The adaptation processing unit adapts the trained acoustic model using the second training data to a keyword detection model.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Ning Ding, Hiroshi Fujimura
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Patent number: 11931767Abstract: A metering apparatus and corresponding method meter a powder material in a three-dimensional (3D) printing system. The metering apparatus comprises a hopper with walls configured to contain a powder material, a metering roller, and a tool. The metering roller is located beneath an opening of the hopper. The metering roller and a given wall of the walls of the hopper are spaced apart by a gap therebetween at the opening; the gap in combination with rotation of the metering roller causes the powder material to flow from under the given wall of the hopper at a substantially predictable rate. The tool is positioned at the given wall where the flow emerges and is configured to force the powder material off of the metering roller to supply the 3D printing system with the powder material for printing a 3D object.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Desktop Metal, Inc.Inventors: Emanuel M. Sachs, Midnight Zero
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Patent number: 11729904Abstract: An efficient fabrication technique, including an optional design step, is used to create highly customizable wearable electronics. The method of fabrication utilizes rapid laser machining and adhesion-controlled soft materials. The method produces well-aligned, multi-layered materials created from 2D and 3D elements that stretch and bend while seamlessly integrating with rigid components such as microchip integrated circuits (IC), discrete electrical components, and interconnects. The design step can be used to create a 3D device that conforms to different-shaped body parts. These techniques are applied using commercially available materials. These methods enable custom wearable electronics while offering versatility in design and functionality for a variety of bio-monitoring applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITYInventors: Eric J. Markvicka, Michael D. Bartlett, Carmel Majidi, Lining Yao, Guanyun Wang, Yi-Chin Lee, Gierad Laput
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Patent number: 11581547Abstract: Systems for creating electrodes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells include an XY stage having a heated vacuum table physically coupled to the XY stage. The vacuum table has a working face with a plurality of channels formed therein to communicate vacuum pressure from a port coupled to a vacuum source to the channels. A sheet of perforated heat-conductive material has staggered holes configured to evenly distribute the vacuum pressure from the channels through the perforated sheet. A heat-conductive wire mesh is placed over the perforated sheet, and has openings smaller than the staggered holes such that a membrane material placed on the wire mesh is not deformed by the vacuum pressure. A nanopipette or micropipette coupled to a pump is configured to deposit electrode ink onto an exposed surface of the membrane material as the controller device causes the XY stage to move the vacuum table to control deposition of the electrode ink onto the surface of the membrane material.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Jae Hyung Park, Deborah J. Myers
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Patent number: 11581560Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a membrane-electrode assembly including the same, a fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell. Particularly, the polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell may include ionomer layers including a voltage reversal tolerance-increasing additive including a water electrolysis catalyst and an electrical conductor and provided on a porous reinforced film.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jongkil Oh, Bo Ki Hong
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Patent number: 11495819Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell assembly includes a cathode electrode; an anode electrode; an electrolyte matrix disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode; a cathode current collector abutting the cathode electrode; and a first electrolyte composition stored in the cathode electrode, the first electrolyte composition comprising a first mixture of a eutectic Li/Na carbonate electrolyte doped with one or more additive materials, wherein the one or more additive materials comprise one or more of SrO, BaCO3, BaO, SrCO3, and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Ethan Demeter
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Patent number: 11444288Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode comprising organic functional metal oxides, a manufacturing method thereof, a membrane-electrode assembly including the same, and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly, and the electrode comprises a support, catalyst particles supported on the support, organic functional metal oxide nanoparticles supported on the support, and an ionomer positioned on the surface of the support. The electrode improves catalyst performance and durability in a high voltage range, can reduce the amount of a catalyst used and catalyst costs by enabling excellent current density and power density to be obtained even in a state that a relatively small amount of the catalyst is used through an increase in catalyst utilization and uniform dispersion of the catalyst, and improves performance in general and low humidification conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Inventor: Jung Ho Kim
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Patent number: 11420194Abstract: A visible light catalyst, its preparation method, a visible light catalyst activated persulfate system and its use. The visible light catalyst includes a carbon material, a transition metal compound and a coating material. The carbon material is conductive carbon material, and the transition metal compound is selected from one or more of transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, and acid or salt compounds containing a transition metal. The visible light catalyst has high visible light photocatalytic activity and performance of degrading organic pollutants and activating persulfate which can result in synergistically degrading degradation-resistant organic pollutants.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: CHINESE RESEARCH ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESInventors: Xiaosong He, Beidou Xi, Jun Cui
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Patent number: 11316169Abstract: Described herein are methods of forming an electrocatalyst structure on an electrode, comprising depositing a first layer on the electrode using atomic layer deposition (ALD), wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of discrete nanoparticles of a first electrocatalyst, and depositing one or more of a second layer on the first layer and the electrode using ALD, wherein the one or more second layer comprises a second electrocatalyst, wherein the first layer and the one or more second layers, collectively, form a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure on the electrode. Also described are electrodes having a multi-layer electrocatalyst structure. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: West Virginia UniversityInventors: Xueyan Song, Yun Chen, Kirk Gerdes
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Patent number: 11280008Abstract: An electrochemical electrode comprising a tin-based catalyst, method of making, and method of use are provided. Catalyst particles are prepared which comprise tin deposits of about 0.1 nm to about 10 nm deposited onto carbon support. Preparing an ink comprising the catalyst particles and a binder enable an electrode to be prepared comprising the catalyst particles bound to an electrode substrate. The electrode may then be used in an apparatus and process to reduce carbon dioxide to products such as formate and formic acid at Faradaic Efficiencies up to 95 percent.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: DNV GL ASInventors: Arun S. Agarwal, Edward J. Rode, Dushyant Gautam
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Patent number: 11196054Abstract: In an example, a process includes applying a platinum catalyst ink solution to a polymeric substrate to form a platinum-coated polymeric material having a first catalytic surface area. The process further includes utilizing a laser to process a portion of the platinum-coated polymeric material to form a patterned platinum-coated proton exchange membrane (PEM) material. The patterned platinum-coated PEM material has a second catalytic surface area that is greater than the first catalytic surface area.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Brandon M. Kobilka, Joseph Kuczynski, Jason T. Wertz
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Patent number: 11117708Abstract: A glass container and a process for forming an inorganic silica coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to improve one or more surface characteristics of the glass container. A sol-gel solution including a polysilazane and an organic solvent is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a sol-gel coating thereon. The glass container and the sol-gel coating are then exposed to a water vapor-containing environment and heated at a temperature of between 150 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius to transform the sol-gel coating into an inorganic silica coating. The as-formed silica coating has a hardness of greater than 8.5 GPa and is bonded to the exterior surface of the glass container through a plurality of siloxane bonds.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Carol A. Click, Michael P. Remington, Pramod K. Sharma, Edward A. Ordway
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Patent number: 11065575Abstract: A device for exchange of water molecule and temperature between two fluids. The device comprises thin molecular sieve membrane sheets that allow water molecules to permeate through while blocking cross-over of the exchanging fluids. The device provides two sets of flow channels having a hydraulic diameter ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm for respective process and sweep fluid flows. The two sets of the channels are separated by a membrane sheet having a thickness less than 200 ?m. The thin molecule sieve membrane may be prepared by forming an ultra-thin zeolite membrane layer on a porous metal-based support sheet which provides very high water permeance so that the exchange can be conducted in a compact membrane module at high throughput. The device can be used to remove water from a process stream of higher water content by use of a sweep fluid of lower water content or higher water affinity.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Molecule Works Inc.Inventor: Wei Liu
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Patent number: 11069906Abstract: A fuel cell module includes fuel cells and an air supply system. The fuel cells are arranged in a cell stack. The air supply system is configured to supply air into an air distribution space for operating or cooling the fuel cells. The fuel cells are stacked in an axial direction. The air supply system is configured such that cooling results due to the air supplied to the fuel cells not being of uniform strength in the axial direction. The air supply system is arranged completely radially outside the cell stack.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: HEXIS AGInventors: Roland Denzler, Andreas Mai, Christoph Meier
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Patent number: 10985393Abstract: In embodiments, a method of forming a membrane electrode assembly comprises pressing a stack comprising a cathode, an anode, a proton exchange membrane between the cathode and the anode, and a porous catalyst layer in contact with the proton exchange membrane, the porous catalyst layer comprising an ionomer, the ionomer coating internal surfaces of pores of the porous catalyst layer, thereby providing internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer; for a time, a pressure, and a temperature to bind the ionomer to the proton exchange membrane, whereby steam is generated within the porous catalyst layer. The steam is removed via pores of the porous catalyst layer to increase the hydrophobicity of the internal ionomer-gas interfaces within the porous catalyst layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KANSASInventors: Trung Van Nguyen, Regis P. Dowd, Jr.
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Patent number: 10985360Abstract: Methods, systems, and compositions for the liquid-phase deposition (LPD) of thin films. The thin films can be coated onto the surface of porous components of electrochemical devices, such as battery electrodes. Embodiments of the present disclosure achieve a faster, safer, and more cost-effective means for forming uniform, conformal layers on non-planar microstructures than known methods. In one aspect, the methods and systems involve exposing the component to be coated to different liquid reagents in sequential processing steps, with optional intervening rinsing and drying steps. Processing may occur in a single reaction chamber or multiple reaction chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Coreshell Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Sourav Roger Basu, Jonathan Tan
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Patent number: 10963109Abstract: The present application relates to a conductive structure body and a method for manufacturing the same. A conductive structure body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application comprises a substrate; a metal layer provided on the substrate; and a light reflection reducing layer provided on at least one surface of the metal layer and comprising copper-manganese-nickel oxide.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: LG CHEM LTD.Inventors: Junghwan Yoon, Doohoon Song, Song Ho Jang, Jin Woo Park, Ki-Hwan Kim
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Patent number: 10868323Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell, and more particularly, a thin and light solid oxide fuel cell has a sealant layer in which a passage through which fuel and air may flow in and out. A support is located on an inner wall of the passage to prevent the blockage of the passage due to flow generated in the sealant layer at a high temperature. A window frame is omitted to simplify a configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Sanghyeok Im, Yeonhyuk Heo, Tai Min Noh, Kwangyeon Park, Kwangwook Choi
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Patent number: 10847808Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fuel cell electrode includes forming a first mixture by mixing a first cation exchange resin, a metal catalyst, and a first solvent, powderizing the first mixture to produce a first catalyst powder comprising the metal catalyst coated with the first cation exchange resin, forming a second mixture by mixing the first catalyst powder, a second cation exchange resin, and a second solvent, powderizing the second mixture to produce a catalyst powder having a core and two or more layers of shells and being coated with the second cation exchange resin, mixing the catalyst powder having the core and two or more layers of shells with a third solvent to produce a catalyst slurry, and coating, using the catalyst slurry, to produce an electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Yoon Hwan Cho, Su Won Seol, Ji Hoon Yang, Young Taek Kim, Dae Yong Son
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Patent number: 10760169Abstract: A method for the substantially complete conversion of hydrogenous matter to higher value product, the method comprising: (i) subjecting the hydrogenous matter to a substantially complete deconstruction process in which an aqueous phase containing a multiplicity of deconstructed compounds is produced; and (ii) contacting the aqueous phase with an anode of a microbial electrolysis cell, the anode containing a community of microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of the oxygenated organic compounds in the aqueous phase to produce protons and free electrons at the anode, wherein the protons and free electrons are transported to the cathode to produce hydrogen gas or a valuable reduced organic compound at the cathode upon application of a suitable cell potential across the anode and cathode. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method described above.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: Abhijeet P. Borole, Alex James Lewis
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Patent number: 10756374Abstract: A catalyst deterioration recovery device in a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell including a membrane electrode assembly configured to include an electrolyte membrane and anode and cathode catalysts between which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched from both sides and anode and cathode separators respectively including an anode gas flow channel and a cathode gas flow channel, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between the anode and cathode separators. The catalyst deterioration recovery device recovers performance decreased by adsorption of carbon monoxide to the anode catalyst. The catalyst deterioration recovery device includes a recovery control unit configured to supply at least a part of oxygen to be supplied to the cathode gas flow channel to the anode catalyst via the electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Iden, Yoshitaka Ono, Satoshi Takaichi
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Patent number: 10727541Abstract: The present invention provides a secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is sealed within a battery case together with an electrolyte, wherein a gas-absorbing polymer having an azo group is included in the battery cell so as to absorb gas generated within the battery.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Sei Woon Oh, Hyun Min Kim, Sun Hwak Woo
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Patent number: 10717861Abstract: Disclosed are: an ionomer nanoparticle dispersion solution formed by dispersing a perfluorinated ionomer having an ion conductive functional group in a solvent mixture including water and an alcohol, and carrying out a reaction under a supercritical condition; and a preparation method thereof. The ionomer nanoparticle dispersion solution has a high azeotropic mixture content in a continuous phase, which is a liquid phase, so as to readily remove a solvent therefrom, and thus a product using the ionomer nanoparticle dispersion solution can be readily fabricated and preparation costs can be reduced. In addition, uniformity of the product is improved because a perfluorinated ionomer having various ion conductive functional groups and various salts thereof is nano-dispersed, in a narrow molecular weight distribution, in the ionomer nanoparticle dispersion solution.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: DANKOOK UNIVERSITY CHEONAN CAMPUS INDUSTRY ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATIONInventor: Chang Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 10693174Abstract: A flat-plate-type fuel cell stack including a plurality of plate-shaped stacked fuel cells each including an electrolyte layer, an anode, and a cathode. The fuel cell stack includes at least one of a fuel manifold communicating with a space adjacent to the anode and an oxidant manifold communicating with a space adjacent to the cathode. A compression seal member and a glass seal member are disposed around the at least one manifold.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: MORIMURA SOFC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuyuki Hotta, Tetsuya Morikawa, Hayato Katsuda, Hiroshi Sumi
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Method and apparatus for bio-electrically generating power from organic ingredients of a waste water
Patent number: 10637089Abstract: For bio-electrically generating electric power from organic ingredients of a waste water flowing in a flow direction, an anode is immersed in the waste water in a first spatial area, and oxygen is supplied to a cathode which is electrically connected to the anode and arranged in a second spatial area delimited from the first spatial area by means of a proton-permeable membrane. A voltage between the anode and the cathode is increased by a DC/DC converter located at the anode and the cathode, and a further voltage between a further anode in said or a further first spatial area and a further cathode in said or a further second spatial area is increased by a further DC/DC converter located at the further anode and the further cathode. A DC voltage link is charged with the DC/DC converter and the further DC/DC converter connected in parallel to the DC voltage link.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignees: EISENHUTH GMBH & CO. KG, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET CLAUSTHALInventors: Michael Sievers, Ulrich Kunz, Thorsten Hickmann -
Patent number: 10629917Abstract: A separator for fuel cells is provided. The separator includes: a base material; an underlying plate layer formed on the base material; and a gold plate layer formed on the underlying plate layer by means of electroless plating. The separator is characterized in that a face of the underlying plate layer facing the gold plate layer has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 80 nm or less. According to the present invention, there can be provided a separator for fuel cells in which the gold plate layer can be uniformly formed for irregular parts that constitute gas flow channels and the occurrence of unformed parts and pinholes in the gold plate layer is prevented without increasing the film thickness of the gold plate layer and which is excellent in the corrosion resistance and the conductivity.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: TOYO KOHAN CO., LTD.Inventor: Nobuaki Mukai
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Patent number: 10547062Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a high cell voltage. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell 1 comprising a membrane/electrode assembly 10 having a cathode catalyst layer 20, an anode catalyst layer 22 and a polymer electrolyte membrane 24 disposed between the cathode catalyst layer 20 and the anode catalyst layer 22, a porous first separator 12 disposed on the cathode catalyst layer 20 side of the membrane/electrode assembly 10, a second separator 18 disposed on the anode catalyst layer 22 side of the membrane/electrode assembly 10; and a cathode interlayer 14 disposed between the cathode catalyst layer 20 and the first separator 12 so as to be in direct contact with them, wherein the cathode interlayer 14 contains carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of from 30 to 300 nm and an ion exchange resin.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2014Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: AGC Inc.Inventors: Toshihiro Tanuma, Shinji Kinoshita
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Patent number: 10505206Abstract: Various methods of treating a chromium iron interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack and coating the interconnect with a ceramic layer are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Tad Armstrong, James Wilson, Harald Herchen, Daniel Darga, Manoj Pillai
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Patent number: 10468687Abstract: A method for improving freezing resistance of a membrane electrode assembly is provided. In particular, the method improves freezing resistance of a membrane electrode assembly including conducting drying and heat treatment under certain conditions to produce an electrode that reduces formation of macro-cracks and micro-cracks in the electrode. Accordingly, water does not permeate the electrode excessively and the electrode does not break even when frozen.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Bo Ki Hong, Jong Kil Oh
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Patent number: 10459547Abstract: The present specification relates to a conductive structure and a method for manufacturing the same.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: LG CHEM, LTDInventors: Junghwan Yoon, Doohoon Song, Song Ho Jang, JinWoo Park, Ki-Hwan Kim
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Patent number: 10439230Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrode for a fuel cell includes a mixing step of producing a first mixed solution by mixing a carbon support, a metal catalyst, a binder and a first dispersion solvent, a drying step of producing a first mixed solution dried body by drying the first mixed solution, a heat treatment step of heating the first mixed solution dried body, a second mixed solution production step of producing a second mixed solution by dissolving the heat-treated first mixed solution dried body in a second dispersion solvent, and a release paper coating step of producing an electrode by coating the second mixed solution onto a release paper, and then drying the second mixed solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Dae-Yong Son, Yoon-Hwan Cho, Jin Seong Choi, Young-Taek Kim
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Patent number: 10396382Abstract: An illustrative example cell stack assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells that each include a cathode electrode, an anode electrode and a matrix for holding a liquid acid electrolyte. The electrodes have lateral outside edges that are generally coplanar. A plurality of separator plates are respectively between the cathode electrode of one of the fuel cells and the anode electrode of an adjacent one of the fuel cells. The separator plates have lateral outside edges that are generally coplanar with the lateral outside edges of the electrodes. A plurality of barriers along at least one of the lateral outside edges of respective ones of the separator plates extend outwardly beyond the lateral outside edges of the electrodes and separator plates. The barriers inhibit acid migration between one of the electrodes on one side of the barrier and one of the electrodes on an opposite side of the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Sridhar V. Kanuri, Richard D. Breault, Kishore Kumar Tenneti, Ned E. Cipollini
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Patent number: 10355299Abstract: Provided are a reinforced composite membrane and a method of manufacturing the reinforced composite membrane, and more particularly, a reinforced composite membrane including a porous support layer; and an electrolyte membrane layer formed on one surface or each of both surfaces of the porous support layer, at least a portion of the porous support layer being impregnated with an electrolyte, and a method of manufacturing the reinforced composite membrane. The reinforced composite membrane may enhance an interfacial adhesive force between a support and the electrolyte membrane layer, and may be manufactured on a continuous mass production.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCHInventors: Byungchan Bae, Hyejin Lee, Sung-Dae Yim, Chang-Soo Kim, Won-Yong Lee, Gu-Gon Park, Tae-Hyun Yang, Seok-Hee Park, Minjin Kim, Young-Jun Sohn, Seung-Gon Kim
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Patent number: 10340543Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells, an incoming oxidizing gas flow path configured to deliver an oxidizing gas to the plurality of fuel cells, and a chromium-getter material located in the incoming oxidizing flow path. A fuel cell includes an electrolyte, a cathode electrode on a first side of the electrolyte, an anode electrode on a second side of the electrolyte, and a chromium-getter material on the cathode electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Manoj Pillai, James Wilson, Tad Armstrong, Chung-Dee Pong, James Chang, Matthias Gottmann, Tulin Akin
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Patent number: 10320020Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode catalyst for fuel cell containing a catalyst carrier having carbon as a main component and a catalytic metal carried on the catalyst carrier, wherein the electrode catalyst for fuel cell has a ratio R? (D?/G intensity ratio) of a peak intensity of D? band (D? intensity) measured in the vicinity of 1620 cm?1 to a peak intensity of G band (G intensity) measured in the vicinity of 1580 cm?1 by Raman spectroscopy of more than 0.6 and 0.8 or less, and satisfies at least one of the (a) to (d). According to the present invention, an electrode catalyst for fuel cell excellent in gas transportability is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., NIPPON STEEL CHEMICAL & MATERIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinichi Takahashi, Tetsuya Mashio, Norifumi Horibe, Atsushi Ohma
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Patent number: 10320004Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell including the following steps: comprising: (a) mixing carbon nanotubes (CNT) with an initial dispersion, wherein the initial dispersion includes an ionomer; (b) heating and stirring the initial dispersion to form a CNT-ionomer composite suspension; (c) after forming the CNT-ionomer composite suspension, mixing the CNT-ionomer composite suspension with an electrode catalyst solution to form an electrode ink, wherein the electrode catalyst solution includes a carbon black powder and a catalyst supported by the carbon black powder; and (d) coating a proton exchange membrane with the electrode ink to form the fuel cell electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Anusorn Kongkanand, Michael K. Carpenter
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Patent number: 10312540Abstract: A cathode-electrolyte-anode unit for an electrochemical functional device, in particular a high-temperature fuel cell. The unit has a multi-layer solid-state electrolyte arranged between a porous anode and a porous cathode. The solid-state electrolyte is produced by a vapor deposition process and has a sandwich-type structure consisting of at least one first layer with a lower oxygen content, and at least one second layer with a higher oxygen content. The individual layers have substantially the same composition, with the exception of oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignees: Plansee Composite Materials GmbH, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Markus Haydn, Matthias Ruettinger, Thomas Franco, Sven Uhlenbruck, Thomas Jung, Kai Ortner
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Patent number: 10301438Abstract: A dispersion liquid including a fiber material which is capable of forming a porous film having high porosity; a porous film formed using the dispersion liquid; a power storage element including the porous film; and a method for producing a porous film using the dispersion liquid. In the dispersion liquid including the fiber material and an organic solvent, which is used for forming a porous film by applying and drying, the fiber material contains a predetermined amount of a modified cellulose fiber including a carboxy group or a metal salt thereof, and the amount of water in the dispersion liquid is 5% by mass or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: TOKYO OHKA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Teruhiro Uematsu, Takeshi Hikima
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Patent number: 10273587Abstract: An electrochemical electrode comprising a tin-based catalyst, method of making, and method of use are provided. Catalyst particles are prepared which comprise tin deposits of about 0.1 nm to 10 nm deposited onto carbon support. Preparing an ink comprising the catalyst particles and a binder enable an electrode to be prepared comprising the catalyst particles bound to an electrode substrate. The electrode may then be used in an apparatus and process to reduce carbon dioxide to products such as formate and formic acid at Faradaic Efficiencies up to 95 percent.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: DNV GL ASInventors: Arun S. Agarwal, Edward James Rode, Dushyant Gautam
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Patent number: 10220409Abstract: Technologies are generally described to increase a surface smoothness of a 3D printed article implementing a water-based treatment using layer by layer (LBL) deposition. An initial 3D printed article having an anionic surface may be treated with a first aqueous solution comprising at least one polycation that may bind to the anionic surface to produce a first treated surface, which may be rinsed with water to remove the first aqueous solution. The first treated surface may be treated with a second aqueous solution comprising at least one anionic microparticle that may bind to the polycation to produce a final 3D printed article having a second treated surface, which may be rinsed with water to remove the second aqueous solution. The bound polycation and anionic microparticle may be present as a single layer in the final 3D printed article that may act as a conformal coating to increase the surface smoothness.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLCInventor: Seth Adrian Miller
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Patent number: 10224561Abstract: A technique for producing a membrane electrode assembly with high quality is provided. In a method for producing a membrane electrode assembly, a first catalyst layer of a first catalyst layer sheet is bonded to a surface of an electrolyte film on which an electrolyte film base sheet is not formed. A first catalyst layer base sheet is separated from the first catalyst layer. The electrolyte film base sheet has been separated from the electrolyte film. A second catalyst layer of a second catalyst layer sheet is bonded to a surface of the electrolyte film from which the electrolyte film base sheet has been separated. The method for producing a membrane electrode assembly further includes a preliminary step of bonding either the second catalyst layer formed on the second catalyst layer base sheet or the second catalyst layer base sheet to a portion of the electrolyte film that has been fed prior to a position at which bonding of the first catalyst layer starts.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Sozaburo Ohashi
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Patent number: 10194561Abstract: Exfoliated graphite materials, and composite materials including exfoliated graphite, having enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity can be used in thermal management applications and devices. Methods for making such materials and devices involve processing exfoliated graphite materials such as flexible graphite to orient or re-orient the graphite flakes in one or more regions of the material.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Terrella Energy Systems Ltd.Inventor: John Kenna
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Patent number: 10186710Abstract: In various embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell is fabricated in part by disposing a functional layer between the cathode and the solid electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignees: REDOX POWER SYSTEMS, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKInventors: Ke-Ji Pan, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar, Dong Ding, Eric Wachsman
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Patent number: 10158140Abstract: A flow battery includes at least one electrochemical cell that has a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and a separator arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first storage portion and a second storage portion are respectively fluidly connected with the at least one electrochemical cell. A first liquid electrolyte and a second liquid electrolyte are located in the respective first storage portion and second storage portion. The first electrode has an area over which it is catalytically active with regard to the first liquid electrolyte and the second electrode has an area over which it is catalytically active with regard to the second liquid electrolyte such that the area of the first electrode is greater than the area of the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Rachid Zaffou, Michael L. Perry
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Patent number: 10153506Abstract: An electrolyte membrane is prepared from a liquid composition comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of trivalent cerium, tetravalent cerium, bivalent manganese and trivalent manganese; and a polymer with a cation-exchange group. The liquid composition is preferably one containing water, a carbonate of cerium or manganese, and a polymer with a cation-exchange group, and a cast film thereof is used as an electrolyte membrane to prepare a membrane-electrode assembly. The present invention successfully provides a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells being capable of generating the electric power in high energy efficiency, having high power generation performance regardless of the dew point of the feed gas, and being capable of stably generating the electric power over a long period of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: AGC INC.Inventors: Hisao Kawazoe, Eiji Endoh, Hideki Nakagawa, Shinji Terazono
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Patent number: 10115991Abstract: A production method for a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly which may include the steps of preparing a catalyst ink that contains a metal catalyst nanoparticle of 0.3 nm to 100 nm in primary particle diameter which is not supported on a support, an electrolyte resin, and a water-based solvent and forming a non-supported-catalyst containing catalyst layer by using the catalyst ink, as a catalyst layer that is included in at least one of a fuel electrode side and an oxidant electrode side in the fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly that has a fuel electrode at one surface side of an electrolyte membrane, and an oxidant electrode at another surface side of the electrolyte membrane.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideo Naohara, Yuichi Orikasa, Manabu Kato
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Patent number: 10109885Abstract: Batteries such as Li-ion batteries are provided that comprise anode and cathode electrodes, an electrolyte ionically coupling the anode and the cathode, and a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode. In some designs, the electrolyte may comprise, for example, a mixture of (i) a Li-ion salt with (ii) at least one other metal salt having a metal with a standard reduction potential below ?2.3 V vs. Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE). In other designs, the electrolyte may be disposed in conjunction with an electrolyte solvent that comprises, for example, about 10 to about 100 wt. % ether. In still other designs, the battery may further comprise anode and cathode interfacial layers (e.g., solid electrolyte interphase (SEI)) disposed between the respective electrode and the electrolyte and having different types of fragments of electrolyte solvent molecules as compared to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.Inventors: Gleb Yushin, Bogdan Zdyrko, Hyea Kim, Igor Luzinov, Yuriy Bandera, Eugene Berdichevsky
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Patent number: 10090549Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fabricating a contact element in an electrochemical device (9) such as an SOFC or an EHT which comprises the following steps: a) use is made of: at least one cell (8) consisting of an assemblage made up of an electrode to be hydrogenated (5)-electrolyte (4)-electrode to be oxygenated (3); at least one first interconnector (1); and at least one second interconnector (7); b) at least one layer of a conducting material is deposited on the first interconnector (1) and/or the second interconnector (7); c) an electrochemical device (9) is assembled; said method being characterized in that: d) a thermomechanical treatment is carried out on the electrochemical device obtained on completion of step c). The invention also relates to an electrochemical device (9) equipped with at least one contact element (2) obtained according to this fabrication method.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Stephane Di Iorio, Bertrand Morel, Cyril Rado