Specified Supporting Layer Patents (Class 429/481)
  • Patent number: 11824206
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite multilayer carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction catalyst, comprising a catalyst layer comprising at least one metal compound, the catalyst layer having opposed first and second sides; a hydrophobic gas-diffusion layer provided on the first side of the catalyst layer; a current collection structure provided on the second side of the catalyst layer. The metal is preferably copper. The invention also relates to a method for electrochemical production of a hydrocarbon product, such as ethylene, using said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: TOTAL SE, THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
    Inventors: Edward Sargent, Cao-Thang Dinh, Francisco Pelayo Garcia De Arquer, Alexander Ip
  • Patent number: 11769879
    Abstract: A coaxially arranged energy storage device suitable for energy storage and structural support for a composite component is provided. The coaxially arranged energy storage device contains an anode core of a continuous carbon fiber;, an electrolyte coating coaxially arranged on the continuous carbon fiber core; and a cathode layer coating coaxially arranged to the continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte coating. The electrolyte coating comprises a gel or elastomer of a cross-linked polymer and a lithium salt and a Young's modulus of the gel or elastomer of a cross-linked polymer is from 0.1 MPa to 10 Mpa. The cathode layer comprises particles of a cathode active material embedded in a matrix of an electrically conductive polymer. Methods to prepare the coaxially arranged energy storage device are described and utilities described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul Gilmore
  • Patent number: 11482715
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a fuel-cell single cell including a membrane-electrode assembly, an anode gas diffusion layer, a cathode gas diffusion layer, and a frame-shaped resin frame to which a peripheral edge portion of the membrane-electrode assembly is fixed. The method includes an adhesive application step of applying an adhesive by screen printing to a predetermined area of the resin frame while fixing the resin frame by suction, and a stacking step and a UV irradiation step of bonding together the resin frame to which the adhesive has been applied and the membrane-electrode assembly by the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Adachi
  • Patent number: 11444308
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first power output unit connected to a first terminal plate, the first power output unit including a first conductor, and a second conductor extending from the first conductor to the outside of an outer peripheral end of a first inner insulator in the state where the second conductor is placed between the first inner insulator and a first end plate. The second conductor is positioned inside of the first end plate in a stacking direction of a cell stack body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Ikeda, Naoki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11233249
    Abstract: An improved or advanced electrically conductive selectively gas permeable anode flow field (SGPFF) design, allowing for efficient removal of CO2 perpendicular to the active area near the location where it is formed in the catalyst layer. The anode plate design includes two mating flow fields (an anode gaseous flow field, and an anode liquid flow field) separated by a semi-permeable separator. The separator comprises a hydrophobic semi-permeable separator for CO2 diffusive gas transport from the liquid side (with formic acid, water, and CO2) to the gaseous side (allowing for CO2 removal to the atmosphere).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Tennessee Technological University
    Inventors: Cynthia Rice, Shadi A. Saeed, Michael Renfro, Antonio Pistono
  • Patent number: 11165053
    Abstract: An electrode film with a high tensile strength and a low electrical resistance is fabricated by using conductive flakes to strengthen polymer stabilized particle electrode. The new compositions and low energy methods are disclosed in this invention. The method includes mixing and blending the particulate materials and fibrilltable polymers with conductive flakes into a paste, fibrillating the polymers, and extruding and rolling the paste into self-supported electrode films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ADVEN INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Xiaotian Zhang, Xinwei Cui, Bin Xie, Weixing Chen, Xiaojing Liu
  • Patent number: 11152626
    Abstract: An illustrative fuel cell component includes a body that has a plurality of first pores. The first pores have a first pore size. A fluorinated carbon coating is on at least some of the body. The coating establishes a plurality of second pores in a coated portion of the body. The second pores have a second pore size that is smaller than the first pore size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Siddique Ali Khateeb Razack
  • Patent number: 11108055
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; a cathode positioned on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane; an anode positioned on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane; a cathode-side sealant positioned on a surface of the cathode different from the electrolyte membrane side of the cathode; an anode-side sealant positioned on a surface of the anode different from the electrolyte membrane side of the anode; a cathode-side separator positioned on a surface of the cathode-side sealant different from the cathode side of the cathode-side sealant; and an anode-side separator positioned on a surface of the anode-side sealant different from the anode side of the anode-side sealant. The anode-side separator has a projection on a surface stacked on the anode-side sealant, or the cathode-side separator has a projection on a surface stacked on the cathode-side sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoko Kasai, Yoshifumi Taguchi, Tsutomu Kawashima, Tsutomu Fujii, Shinichiro Imura, Toshihiro Otsuka, Miyuki Yoshimoto, Kozue Kuniyoshi
  • Patent number: 11094947
    Abstract: A resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes an MEA having different sizes of components, and a resin frame member. A resin melt portion is provided for the resin frame member. The inside of a first gas diffusion layer is impregnated with resin as a part of the resin melt portion. A thin portion is provided at an outermost peripheral portion of the resin frame member through a step at an outermost peripheral portion of the resin melt portion, and the thin portion is thinner in a thickness direction than the resin melt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Ohmori, Yukihito Tanaka, Yoshihito Kimura, Ryugo Fujitsuka, Shintaro Tanaka, Masaki Tani
  • Patent number: 11056703
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a unit cell of a fuel cell, includes: preparing a membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly; preparing a frame member; bringing an inner peripheral edge of the frame member into contact with a first gas diffusion layer by pushing a convex surface and by deforming a curved portion, in a state where a surface of the frame member is in contact with a peripheral region through an adhesive bond; and joining the frame member and the membrane-electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly with the adhesive bond, in a state where the inner peripheral edge of the frame member is in contact with the first gas diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Shibata
  • Patent number: 10996084
    Abstract: In a resin decorative part, a clear decoration has a body transmitting light and includes a carbon-toned surface provided on the opposite side to the viewer side of the body and having a carbon-toned pattern. The carbon color layer is colored in a carbon color, is laminated on the carbon-toned surface, and has a reflective surface reflecting light transmitted through the clear decoration. The carbon-toned pattern is formed with a plurality of pseudo carbon fiber bundles presenting carbon fiber bundles formed by bundling carbon fibers in a pseudo manner. The pseudo carbon fiber bundle has a plurality of linear grooves that constitute pseudo carbon fibers presenting carbon fibers in a pseudo manner. The carbon-toned surface includes a pseudo carbon fiber bundle in which the length in the extending direction of each linear groove and the depth of the linear groove vary in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hattori, Teruomi Sano
  • Patent number: 10930954
    Abstract: In an inspection method for inspecting occurrence of a deformation in a fuel cell, a change amount between a pressure loss parameter value before an impact and a pressure loss parameter value after the impact is found, and when the change amount is a reference value determined in advance or more, it is determined that the deformation occurs inside the fuel cell. It is determined that the deformation occurs inside the fuel cell due to the impact, in at least either of a case where the change amount of a first pressure loss parameter value that is a pressure loss parameter value in a gas passage is a first reference value or more and a case where the change amount of a second pressure loss parameter value that is a pressure loss parameter value in a refrigerant passage is a second reference value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Enomoto, Toshiyuki Tonuma, Shinya Sano, Kento Ida
  • Patent number: 10804542
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode substrate has an electrically conductive porous substrate and a microporous layer-1 on one side of the electrically conductive porous substrate. The microporous layer-1 includes a dense portion A and a dense portion B. The dense portion A is a region containing a fluorine resin and a carbonaceous powder having a primary particle size of 20 nm to 39 nm. The dense portion A has a thickness of 30% to 100% with respect to the thickness of the microporous layer-1 as 100% and a width of 10 ?m to 200 ?m. The dense portion B is a region containing a fluorine resin and a carbonaceous powder having a primary particle size of 40 nm to 70 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masamichi Utsunomiya, Yasuaki Tanimura, Toshiya Kamae, Junichi Urai
  • Patent number: 10720650
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a catalyst layer containing a polymer electrolyte and catalyst-carrying carbon. A value of an initial weight ratio of the polymer electrolyte to the catalyst-carrying carbon in the catalyst layer is set to a value that is smaller by 0.1 to 0.2 than a value of a weight ratio of the polymer electrolyte to the catalyst-carrying carbon in the catalyst layer which maximizes a maximum output of the fuel cell in a state where the polymer electrolyte is not swollen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Go Tejima
  • Patent number: 10700373
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including directly depositing a liquid suspension containing a platinum precursor onto an ionically conductive membrane (e.g., proton-exchange membrane) that, when the platinum precursor deposit layer is reduced, provides a layer that will scavenge hydrogen that has diffused back through the membrane due to cell stack pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PROTON ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Bryce Capuano, Morgan Elizabeth Pertoso, Nemanja Danilovic
  • Patent number: 10622658
    Abstract: A release layer of a release film for producing a membrane electrode assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a cyclic olefin polymer comprising an olefin unit having a C3-10alkyl group as a side chain thereof. The release layer may have a glass transition temperature of about 210 to 350° C. The release layer may have a transition point of a dynamic storage modulus E? in a range from ?50 to 100° C. An ion exchange layer comprising an ion exchange polymer may be laminated on the release layer of the release film by a roll-to-roll processing to produce a laminate. The release film may be separated from the laminate to give the membrane electrode assembly. The release film achieves improved production of a membrane electrode assembly (an electrolyte membrane and/or an electrode membrane) of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: DAICEL CORPORATION, DAICEL VALUE COATING LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Onomichi, Katsuhiko Sumita, Yoshimichi Okano, Kanae Nishimura, Kazuyuki Okada, Takayuki Yaegashi, Ken Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10593966
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a solid oxide fuel cell and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Woo Kim, Kwangwook Choi, Dong Oh Shin, Changseok Ryoo, Gyunjoong Kim
  • Patent number: 10522851
    Abstract: A relation of X×?T×CTEt<L×t is satisfied, where X represents a distance between a circumferentially innermost position of a bonded portion of a resin frame bonded to first projections of separators and a circumferentially inner end of the resin frame; L represents a distance between the circumferentially inner end of the resin frame and a circumferentially outermost position of a held portion of a membrane electrode gas-diffusion-layer assembly that is interposed and held between second projections of the separators: ?T represents a temperature difference from a low temperature T1 of ?40° C. to a high temperature T2 of 100° C. CTEf represents an average coefficient of linear expansion of the resin frame within a range of the low temperature T1 to the high temperature T2; t represents a breaking elongation of the electrolyte membrane at the low temperature T1; and the distances X, L represents dimensions at the high temperature T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumishige Shizuku, Sachio Okada, Takashi Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 10516171
    Abstract: A catalyst for a fuel cell includes an active metal catalyst and a composite supporter supporting the active metal catalyst. The composite supporter includes a spherical-shaped supporter and a fibrous supporter, wherein the fibrous supporter is included in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % based on the total amount of the composite supporter. In addition, an electrode for a fuel cell using the same, a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell including the electrode, and a fuel cell system including the membrane-electrode assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Tak Kim, Sung-Yong Cho, Kah-Young Song
  • Patent number: 10516182
    Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer ion exchange membrane having a self-hydration capability at a high temperature under low humidity, a method of preparing the polymer ion exchange membrane, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system including the polymer ion exchange membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a hydrocarbon-based proton conductive polymercoating layer, and has a nano-crack on the hydrophobic surface and thus may secure ion conductivity and self-hydration capability under low humidity and remarkably improve electrochemical performance of an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)
    Inventors: Young Moo Lee, Chi Hoon Park, Doo Sung Hwang, So Young Lee, Dong Won Shin
  • Patent number: 10483560
    Abstract: A single cell of a fuel cell has: a membrane-electrode assembly; and first and second separators holding the membrane-electrode assembly therebetween. The first separator has plural first straight or wavy groove channels that are arranged in parallel to each other in a first in-plane direction. A cross section along the first in-plane direction of each of the plural first groove channels has a first uneven shape. The first uneven shape has a first pitch P1 along the first in-plane direction. The second separator has plural second wavy groove channels that are aligned along the first in-plane direction. A second uneven shape of the plural second groove channels has a second pitch P2 along the first in-plane direction. The first pitch P1 and the second pitch P2 differ from each other, and neither a value of P1/P2 nor a value of P2/P1 is an integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Nonoyama, Masaya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10424801
    Abstract: A cell structure includes a cathode, an anode, and a protonically conductive solid electrolyte layer between the cathode and the anode. The solid electrolyte layer contains a compound having a perovskite structure and containing zirconium, cerium, and a rare-earth element other than cerium. If the solid electrolyte layer has a thickness of T, the elemental ratio of zirconium to cerium at a position 0.25 T from a surface of the solid electrolyte layer opposite the cathode, ZrC/CeC, and the elemental ratio of zirconium to cerium at a position 0.25 T from a surface of the solid electrolyte layer opposite the anode, ZrA/CeA, satisfy ZrC/CeC>ZrA/CeA, and ZrC/CeC>1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Higashino, Yohei Noda, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Naho Mizuhara, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Hisao Takeuchi, Masatoshi Majima
  • Patent number: 10249898
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a membrane electrode assembly comprises a catalyst layer being porous and containing a catalyst material, the catalyst layer comprising a plurality of catalyst units each having a porous body structure or a laminated structure containing a void layer, and an electrolyte membrane adjacent to the porous catalyst layer. The catalyst unit bites into the electrolyte membrane, and an average biting ratio is not less than 10%, and not more than 80% of a thickness of the catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Taishi Fukazawa, Tianyi Yang
  • Patent number: 10196721
    Abstract: An iron-chromium-aluminum alloy with improved heat resistance, low chromium vaporization rate and good processability, comprising (in % by mass), 2.0 to 4.5% Al, 12 to 25% Cr, 1.0 to 4% W, 0.25 to 2.0% Nb, 0.05 to 1.2% Si, 0.001 to 0.70% Mn, 0.001 to 0.030% C, 0.0001 to 0.05% Mg, 0.0001 to 0.03% Ca, 0.001 to 0.030% P, max. 0.03% N, max. 0.01% S, remainder iron and the usual melting-related impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: VDM Metals International GmbH
    Inventors: Heike Hattendorf, Bernd Kuhn, Thomas Eckardt, Tilmann Beck, Willem Quadakkers, Werner Theisen, Nilofar Nabiran
  • Patent number: 10170787
    Abstract: An example separator includes: a flat plate-shaped first plate member; a flat plate-shaped second plate member joined with the first plate member; an oxidation gas flow channel wall, which forms a flow channel of oxidation gas; a fuel gas flow channel wall, which forms a flow channel of fuel gas; a cooling medium flow channel wall, which forms a flow channel of a cooling medium; a first through hole, which penetrates the first plate member and the second plate member; a second through hole, which penetrates the first plate member and the second plate member; a first cooling medium passage part; a second cooling medium passage part; one projection, which is formed on at least one of the first cooling medium passage part and the second cooling medium passage part; and another projection, which is formed at a position corresponding to the one projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuki Ikoma
  • Patent number: 10170769
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbon substrate, includes the successive steps of impregnating the carbon substrate with an aqueous solution containing an amorphous fluorinated copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and of perfluoromethoxy dioxole, drying the carbon substrate at a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure, and obtaining a carbon substrate impregnated with a fluorinated copolymer. Such a carbon substrate may be used as a gas diffusion layer in a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Yohann Thomas, Marie Heitzmann, Joël Pauchet, Maxime Schroder
  • Patent number: 10003090
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes permeating at least a portion of a component layer with a polymer. The portion of the component layer is adjacent an edge of the component layer. Some of the polymer is allowed to extend beyond the edge to thereby establish a flap beyond the edge of the component layer. A fuel cell component includes a component layer having a portion adjacent an edge of the layer that is impregnated with a polymer material and a flap of the polymer material extending beyond the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Osepowicz, Manish Khandelwal, Sridhar V. Kanuri
  • Patent number: 10003091
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell component includes situating at least one polymer film layer against a permeable component layer. The polymer film layer comprises a polymer that is chemically resistant to phosphoric acid. The polymer film layer is melted. The permeable component layer is impregnated with the melted polymer to thereby establish a region on the component layer that is impermeable to phosphoric acid. The impregnated region also provides a seal against reactant leakage from the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Osepowicz, Manish Khandelwal
  • Patent number: 9954242
    Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, the membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane; an edge protective layer located at generally an edge of the electrolyte membrane; and a catalytic layer including a plate portion contacting the electrolyte membrane and a protruding portion protruding from the plate portion and contacting the edge protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Tak Kim, Sung-Yong Cho, Tae-Yoon Kim, Kah-Young Song, Sang-Il Han, Geun-Seok Chai, Myoung-Ki Min
  • Patent number: 9793550
    Abstract: A gas diffusion layer (30) for a fuel cell includes: a gas diffusion layer substrate (31); and a microporous layer (32) containing a granular carbon material and scale-like graphite and formed on the gas diffusion layer substrate (31). The microporous layer (32) includes a concentrated region (32a) of the scale-like graphite that is formed into a belt-like shape extending in a direction approximately parallel to a junction surface (31a) between the microporous layer (32) and the gas diffusion layer substrate (31). Accordingly, both resistance to dry-out and resistance to flooding, which are generally in a trade-off relationship, in the gas diffusion layer can be ensured so as to contribute to an increase in performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yozo Okuyama, Shigemasa Kuwata, Kazufumi Kodama
  • Patent number: 9786923
    Abstract: Provided is a porous electrode substrate having excellent thickness precision, gas permeability and conductivity, handling efficiency, low production costs and a high carbonization rate during carbonization. Also provided are a method for manufacturing such a substrate, a precursor sheet and fibrillar fiber used for forming such a substrate, along with a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that contain such a substrate. The method for manufacturing a porous electrode substrate includes step (1) for manufacturing a precursor sheet in which short carbon fibers (A) and carbon fiber precursor (b) are dispersed, and step (2) for carbonizing the precursor sheet, and the volume contraction rate of carbon fiber precursor (b) in step (2) is 83% or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sumioka, Shigeru Tanoue, Yoshihiro Sako
  • Patent number: 9786929
    Abstract: A fuel cell of the present disclosure includes an electrolyte-layer-electrode assembly, a first separator, a second separator, and one or more gas permeation suppressing sections, the inner surface of the first separator and the inner surface of the second separator have a first region and a second region, the gas permeation suppressing section is provided at least one of a first reactant gas channel and a second reactant gas channel so as to overlap with the first region when viewed in a thickness direction of the first separator, and the gas permeation suppressing section is provided at least one of the first reactant gas channel and the second reactant gas channel so as to overlap with the second region when viewed in the thickness direction of the first separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miho Gemba, Yoichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9685646
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lead-acid battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator positioned between the electrodes to electrically insulate the electrodes. Battery includes a nonwoven fiber mat positioned adjacent an electrode. Mat includes a mixture of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 ?m to 13 ?m and second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 ?m and a silane sizing. An acid resistant binder bonds the glass fibers to form mat. A wetting component is applied to increase the wettability such that mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of mat such that when mat is adjacent an electrode, the conductive material contacts the electrode. An electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square enables electron flow about mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Michael Ketzer, Gerold Albert, Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G. Dietz, III
  • Patent number: 9543590
    Abstract: A catalyst layer composition for a fuel cell includes an ionomer cluster, a catalyst, and a solvent including water and polyhydric alcohol; and an electrode for a fuel cell includes a catalyst layer comprising an ionomer cluster having a three-dimensional reticular structure, and a catalyst, a method of preparing a electrode for a fuel cell includes a catalyst layer comprising an ionomer cluster having a three-dimensional reticular structure, and a catalyst, and a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell including the electrode and a fuel cell system including the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Kolon Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Tae-Yoon Kim, Sang-Il Han, Sung-Yong Cho, Hee-Tak Kim, Kah-Young Song, Myoung-Ki Min, Geun-Seok Chai
  • Patent number: 9496563
    Abstract: A slip sheet for a fuel cell stack that includes a plurality of spaced fluid channel support protrusions protruding from a main body, at portions which face fluid channel protrusions of a separator plate in such a manner that the spaced fluid channel support protrusions come into contact with the fluid channel protrusions of the separator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seong Il Heo, Yoo Chang Yang, Jun Ho Jang, Chi Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 9478818
    Abstract: Membrane electrode assembly is provided that includes an electrolyte membrane; an electrode catalytic layer including nanostructured elements having acicular micro structured support whiskers bearing acicular nanoscopic catalyst particles; and a gas diffusion layer including a nitrogen-containing compound that includes an anionic ion-exchange group. A method of regenerating the membrane electrode assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kazuki Noda
  • Patent number: 9437883
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fuel cell module includes: forming an outer divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber having adhesiveness in a seal member arrangement portion of a separator to produce an outer temporary assembly, and forming an inner divided body having a frame shape and formed from an uncrosslinked item of solid rubber in a peripheral edge portion of an electrode member to produce an inner temporary assembly; fitting the inner temporary assembly into a frame of the outer temporary assembly to produce a cell assembly temporary assembly; arranging a cell assembly stack, in which a plurality of the cell assembly temporary assemblies are stacked, in a forming die; and pressurizing and heating the forming die to crosslink the uncrosslinked item
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Tanahashi, Shinichi Haga, Hideya Kadono, Yutaka Ishioka, Kenji Sato, Fumishige Shizuku, Hiroo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9293772
    Abstract: A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Nancy J. Dudney, James W. Klett, Jagjit Nanda, Chaitanya Kumar Narula, Sreekanth Pannala
  • Patent number: 9243335
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuel cell, oxygen generator or high temperature electrolyzer comprising a metallic substrate comprising: (i) at least one porous region comprising a plurality of pores in said metallic substrate, where the porosity varies in at least one direction substantially coincident with the path or paths of a reactant stream to be passed over the substrate when in use and/or in areas of in-use poor gas flow; and (ii) at least one non-porous region bounding the at least one porous region, and having mounted on said metallic substrate an electrode of said fuel cell, oxygen generator or high temperature electrolyzer. Also disclosed are fuel cell stack layers and fuel cell stacks comprising same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CERES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ahmet Selcuk
  • Patent number: 9246184
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a solid oxide electrolyte having a fuel inlet riser opening and a fuel outlet riser opening. The electrolyte is located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The SOFC also includes a ceramic support layer on the electrolyte. The ceramic support is layer located around the at least one of a periphery of the electrolyte or at least partially around perimeters of the fuel inlet and fuel outlet riser openings. The ceramic support layer comprises a multi-component material comprising yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and alpha alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Eric Petersen, Richard Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9160007
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode for a fuel cell that includes an electrode substrate and a surface-treatment layer disposed on the electrode substrate and including a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer partially disposed on the hydrophilic layer. Also disclosed are a method of fabricating an electrode for a fuel cell, a membrane-electrode assembly, and a fuel cell system including the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-Young Kim, Myoung-Ki Min, Hee-Tak Kim
  • Patent number: 9099693
    Abstract: In a fuel cell having a separator in which main cooling water channels are formed, a separator for another unit cell stacked on the cooling water channel formation surface side of the separator, and a second sealing member interposed between the separators and to seal a cooling medium flowing in the main cooling water channels, an outer peripheral rib for regulating the flow of cooling water to the second sealing member side is provided inside relative to the second sealing member in the separator surface direction in order to improve the efficiency of cooling with the cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Nakaji, Tsutomu Ochi, Chisato Kato, Tsunemasa Nishida, Manabu Takahashi, Yasuyuki Asai
  • Publication number: 20150147675
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a laminate having food adhesion between a support and a conductive layer. The laminate of the present invention comprises a conductive layer A formed on a support, the conductive layer A containing a conductive carbon material and a polymer, the polymer in the conductive layer A being dense at the surface in contact with the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kasumi Oi, Naoya Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kishimoto, Hitoshi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20150140470
    Abstract: A microporous layer for use in a fuel cell includes a first carbon black having carboxyl groups at a concentration less than 0.1 mmol per gram of carbon, a hydrophobic additive and a hydrophilic additive. A method for producing a membrane electrode assembly includes preparing a microporous layer ink, applying the microporous layer ink to a first side of a gas diffusion substrate, sintering the gas diffusion substrate to form a gas diffusion layer having a first side with a microporous layer, and thermally bonding the first side of the gas diffusion layer to an electrode layer. The microporous layer ink includes a suspension medium, a first carbon black having carboxyl groups at a concentration less than 0.1 mmol per gram of carbon, a hydrophobic additive and a hydrophilic additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Siddique Ali Khateeb Razack, Robert Mason Darling
  • Publication number: 20150118595
    Abstract: A gas diffusion layer with flowpaths in which electroconductive wires form flow channels disposed upon an electroconductive substrate, the flow channels formed by the electroconductive wires having a height of 300 ?m or less, and flow channels formed by adjacent electroconductive wires having an equivalent diameter of 300 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya Hasegawa, Hisao Terasaki
  • Publication number: 20150118596
    Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode medium is for a fuel cell, has a low in-plane gas permeability and favorable water drainage characteristics in addition to high conductivity, and is able to exhibit high cell performance across a wide temperature range from low temperatures to high temperatures. The gas diffusion electrode medium is characterized by a microporous region being disposed at least at one surface of an electrode substrate, and the microporous region containing flake graphite having an aspect ratio of 50-5000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Masamichi Utsunomiya, Toshiya Kamae
  • Patent number: 9012105
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first catalyst layer and a first gas diffusion layer. The second electrode includes a second catalyst layer and a second gas diffusion layer. The resin frame member includes an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral projection. A first space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the second gas diffusion layer and an inner-side end face of the inner peripheral projection. A second space includes a gap between an outer peripheral end face of the first gas diffusion layer and an inner-side wall face of the outer peripheral portion. The first space has a dimension different from a dimension of the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Mitsuta, Hiroshi Sohma, Yukihito Tanaka, Yusuke Okabe, Yu Tomana
  • Publication number: 20150099208
    Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion that protrudes from an inner peripheral base portion toward the cathode electrode and that has a thickness. The inner protruding portion has an adhesive application portion to which an adhesive is applied so as to surround a part of the inner protruding portion. The part is in contact with the stepped membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of a cathode diffusion layer is larger than a thickness of an anode diffusion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji SUGIURA, Yoshihito KIMURA, Naoki MITSUTA, Masashi SUGISHITA, Kenichi TANAKA, Yukihito TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8999599
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a membrane electrode assembly, comprising: obtaining a mixture by mixing and kneading electrically conductive particles, a polymer resin, a surfactant, and a dispersion solvent (S1); obtaining a sheet-like mixture by rolling out and shaping the mixture (S2); obtaining a carbon sheet by heat-treating the sheet-like mixture at a first heat treatment temperature such that the surfactant and the dispersion solvent are removed from the sheet-like mixture (S3); obtaining a dispersion liquid by mixing electrically conductive particles, a polymer resin, a surfactant, and a dispersion solvent (S4); forming, on the carbon sheet, a dispersion liquid layer thinner than the carbon sheet by forming and drying a coating of the dispersion liquid on the carbon sheet (S5); obtaining a gas diffusion layer in which a carbon layer is formed on the carbon sheet, by heat-treating the carbon sheet on which the dispersion liquid layer is formed at a second heat treatment temperature lower than the first heat t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Shintani, Toshifumi Ueda, Masaki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8993199
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible carbon fiber nonwoven fabric which has resistance to bending, is flexible, and exhibits excellent processability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Naokazu Sasaki