Electrical Current Collector Patents (Class 429/517)
  • Patent number: 8580453
    Abstract: A solid oxide electrochemical device having a laminar composite electrode with improved electrochemical and mechanical performance, the laminar composite electrode comprising a porous support electrode layer, a thin and patterned structure layer, and a thin and dense electrolyte layer and methods for making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jie Guan, Gregory R. Lear, Matthew Walker
  • Patent number: 8580454
    Abstract: A combined subgasket and membrane support for a fuel cell is provided. The combined subgasket and membrane support includes a substantially fluid impermeable feed region circumscribing a porous membrane support region. The membrane support region is integrally formed with the feed region. At least one of the membrane support region and the feed region is at least partially formed by a radiation-cured structure. A method for fabricating the subgasket and membrane support for the fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gerald W. Fly, Yeh-Hung Lai, Jeffrey A. Rock, Keith E. Newman, Ping Liu, Alan J. Jacobsen, William B. Carter, Peter D. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20130295492
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode comprising a carbon material obtained from an azulmic acid and a current collector and/or a binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Hidenori Hinago, Masashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8574784
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell having a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte film, an air electrode, and a conductive current-collecting mesh bonded to an upper surface, opposite to a lower bonding surface with the solid electrolyte film, of the air electrode. Plural bonding portions that are bonded to the current-collecting mesh and plural non-bonding portions that are not bonded to the current-collecting mesh are present on the upper surface of the air electrode. In the air electrode, regions having a porosity smaller than a porosity of the other region are respectively formed on the position in the middle of the thickness of the air electrode from each bonding portion. The average of the porosity of the dense portion is 20% or more and less than 35%, while the average of the porosity of the porous portion is 35% or more and less than 55%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayano Kobayashi, Makoto Ohmori
  • Publication number: 20130280631
    Abstract: Collector plates made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing ruggedness, lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing, and methods of making such collector plates from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Trevor WENDE
  • Patent number: 8563190
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises: multiple unit cells stacked upright in a vertical direction or stacked in a vertically inclined orientation; an insulating plate arranged on a vertically upper-side end of the stacked multiple unit cells; a cooling medium supply manifold arranged to distribute a supply flow of a cooling medium into the multiple unit cells and a cooling medium discharge manifold arranged to join together discharged flows of the cooling medium from the multiple unit cells; and a de-airing passage formed to release a gas accumulated in either the cooling medium supply manifold or the cooling medium discharge manifold, wherein the cooling medium supply discharge manifold and the cooling medium discharge manifold are respectively connected to a cooling medium supply piping and a cooling medium discharge piping on a vertically lower-side end of the fuel cell, and the de-airing passage is formed such that a portion of the de-airing passage is made in the insulating plate wherein the portion of the de-airing pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 8557468
    Abstract: A high-performance carbonate electrolyte for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, an electrolyte matrix and at least a cathode current collector abutting said cathode electrode, the high-performance carbonate electrolyte comprising: a first carbonate electrolyte stored in at least the cathode electrode of the molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a mixture of eutectic Li/Na carbonate electrolyte doped with one or more additive materials and one or more lithium precursors, wherein the additive materials include one or more of Rb2CO3, Cs2CO3, BaCO3, La2O3, Bi2O3, Ta2O5 and mixtures thereof, and a second carbonate electrolyte stored in at least the cathode current collector, the second carbonate electrolyte having a composition that is the same or different from the first carbonate electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdelkader Hilmi, Chao-Yi Yuh, Mohammad Farooque
  • Publication number: 20130244133
    Abstract: The present invention is related to fuel cells and fuel cell cathodes, especially for fuel cells using hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or air as oxidant. A supported electrocatalyst (204) or unsupported metal black catalyst (206) of cathodes according to an embodiment of the present invention is bonded to a current collector (200) by an intrinsically electron conducting adhesive (202). The surface of the electrocatalyst layer is coated by an ion-conducting ionomer layer (210). According to an embodiment of the invention these fuel cells use cathodes that employ ruthenium alloys RuMeIMeII such as ruthenium-palladium-iridium alloys or quaternary ruthenium-rhenium alloys RuMeIMeIIRe such as ruthenium-palladium-iridium-rhenium alloys as electrocatalyst (206) for hydrogen peroxide fuel cells. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Friedrich Wilhelm Wieland
  • Patent number: 8518229
    Abstract: An integrated electrode-current collector sheet includes a current collector including uneven portions disposed on at least one side of the current collector; and an active material layer disposed on the current collector, the active material layer at least partially covering the uneven portions. In addition, disclosed are a capacitive deionization device and an electric double layer capacitor including the integrated electrode-current collector sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-jung Yang, Hyo-rang Kang, Tae-won Song, Chang-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8518602
    Abstract: A hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell including an electrolyte sandwiched between two catalyst layers or sheets, each catalyst layer or sheet being in contact with a porous electrode, in which one or several catalyst layers or sheets and one or several electrode layers or sheets interpenetrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Tours) SAS
    Inventor: Nicolas Karst
  • Publication number: 20130209919
    Abstract: Performance, properties and stability of bifunctional air electrodes may be improved by using modified current collectors, and improving water wettability of air electrode structures. This invention provides information on creating non-corroding, electrically rechargeable, bifunctional air electrodes. In some embodiments, this bifunctional air electrode includes a corrosion-resistant outer layer and an electrically conductive inner layer. In some embodiments, this bifunctional air electrode includes titanium suboxides formed by reducing titanium dioxide. Titanium suboxides may be corrosion-resistant and electrically conductive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Eos Energy Storage, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Amendola, Michael Binder, Phillip J. Black, Stefanie Sharp-Goldman, Lois Johnson, Michael Kunz, Michael Oster, Tesia Chciuk, Regan Johnson
  • Patent number: 8497049
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, and a layer over at least a portion of the first face, wherein the layer comprises a zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • Patent number: 8497050
    Abstract: A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a non-crystalline carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The non-crystalline carbon layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Thomas A. Trabold, Youssef M. Mikhail, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
  • Publication number: 20130171540
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel cell apparatus including: a first electrode support having a tubular shape; an interconnector connected to one side of the first electrode support; an electrolyte membrane surrounding the interconnector and covering an outer surface of the first electrode support; a second electrode formed at the outer surface of the electrolyte membrane while being spaced apart from the interconnector; a first current collecting member surrounding an outer surface of the second electrode; and a second current collecting member engaged with an outer surface of the first current collecting member and having a bimetal structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bon Seok Koo, Sung Han Kim, Eon Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20130149631
    Abstract: A device for a solid oxide fuel cell or a solid oxide electrolysis cell includes an integral one-piece construction of a current collector and a manifold. The device eliminates the need for a brazing or thermal bonding process for joining the manifold with the current collector, and thus makes it possible to prevent breakdown of the junction formed between the manifold and the current collector, which can lead to gas leakage through the junction, and thus can be used for a long period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sun-Dong Kim, Doo-Won Seo, In-Sub Han, Ji-Haeng Yu, Se-Young Kim, Sang-Kuk Woo
  • Patent number: 8455151
    Abstract: A fuel cell 100 is characterized by including an electrolyte 30, and an electrolyte-strengthening member 10 that has a penetration portion 11 and strengthens the electrolyte. The electrolyte 30 has a high-electrical-current-density region of which electrical current density is higher than an average electrical current density of the electrolyte 30 and has a low-electrical-current-density region of which electrical current density is lower than the average electrical current density, at a face thereof on an opposite side of the electrolyte-strengthening substrate 100. An area where the penetration portion 11 faces with the high-electrical-current-density region is larger than that where the penetration portion 11 faces with the low-electrical-current-density region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 8440334
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery including a case containing an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly having a coated region and an uncoated region, a lead member inside the case, the lead member surrounding at least a part of the uncoated region of the electrode assembly and having a first thickness, an electrode terminal connected to the lead member, and a current collecting plate having a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness and coupled to the lead member and to the uncoated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Yong-Sam Kim
  • Patent number: 8415072
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell provides a current collector adjacent to an electrode catalyst layer. Since electrons passing between the current collector and the electrode catalyst layer do not pass through a diffusion layer or a supporting layer, the diffusion layer or supporting layer may be non-conductive. Thus, various materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, porous, hydrous, or the like can be used for the diffusion layer and the supporting layer, thereby improving the performance of the fuel cell. In addition, manufacturing costs of the membrane electrode assembly can be decreased since the membrane electrode assembly can be manufactured quickly with low energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-min Oh, Hae-kyoung Kim, Ji-rae Kim, Joon-hee Kim, Yoon-hoi Lee, Sang-hoon Joo
  • Patent number: 8410747
    Abstract: Fuel cell components provide fuel cells on a flexible sheet that defines a wall of a flexible plenum. An external support structure limits expansion of the plenum in response to forces exerted by a pressurized reactant. The external support structure may comprise a portion of a housing of a portable device. Cathodes of the fuel cells may be accessible from an outside of the flexible sheet and exposed to ambient air while anodes of the fuel cell are accessible from an inside of the flexible sheet and exposed to a fuel, such as hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Jeremy Schrooten
  • Patent number: 8389181
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack device that can suppress a damage to fuel cells is provided. A fuel cell stack device includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged upright, and are electrically connected via a current-collecting member interposed between adjacent fuel cells, fuel cells stack-supporting members disposed so as to hold the fuel cell stack via an end current-controlling member from both end sides, and a manifold that fixes lower ends of the fuel cells, and that supplies a reactant gas to the fuel cells. The fuel cell stack-supporting member has a lower end fixed to the manifold and is an elastically deformable member, and is disposed such that a fixed portion thereof fixed to the manifold is at a same or lower level than a fixed portion of the fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Ooshima, Norimitsu Fukami
  • Patent number: 8389177
    Abstract: A combined subgasket and membrane support for a fuel cell is provided. The combined subgasket and membrane support includes a substantially fluid impermeable feed region circumscribing a porous membrane support region. The membrane support region is integrally formed with the feed region. At least one of the membrane support region and the feed region is at least partially formed by a radiation-cured structure. A method for fabricating the subgasket and membrane support for the fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations
    Inventors: Gerald W. Fly, Yeh-Hung Lai, Jeffrey A. Rock, Keith E. Newman, Ping Liu, Alan J. Jacobsen, William B. Carter, Peter D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8389178
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device comprising a primary positive electrode, a negative electrode, and one or more ionic conductors. The ionic conductors ionically connect the primary positive electrode with the negative electrode. The primary positive electrode comprises carbon dioxide (CO2) and a means for electrochemically reducing the CO2. This means for electrochemically reducing the CO2 comprises a conductive primary current collector, contacting the CO2, whereby the CO2 is reduced upon the primary current collector during discharge. The primary current collector comprises a material to which CO2 and the ionic conductors are essentially non-corrosive. The electrochemical energy storage device uses CO2 as an electroactive species in that the CO2 is electrochemically reduced during discharge to enable the release of electrical energy from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Karoly Nemeth, Michel Antonius van Veenendaal, George Srajer
  • Patent number: 8389180
    Abstract: Electrolytic/fuel cell bundles and systems including such bundles include an electrically conductive current collector in communication with an anode or a cathode of each of a plurality of cells. A cross-sectional area of the current collector may vary in a direction generally parallel to a general direction of current flow through the current collector. The current collector may include a porous monolithic structure. At least one cell of the plurality of cells may include a current collector that surrounds an outer electrode of the cell and has at least six substantially planar exterior surfaces. The planar surfaces may extend along a length of the cell, and may abut against a substantially planar surface of a current collector of an adjacent cell. Methods for generating electricity and for performing electrolysis include flowing current through a conductive current collector having a varying cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Grant L. Hawkes, James S. Herring, Carl M. Stoots, James E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8372255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector for electrochemical diaphragm or membrane-type cells, comprising a layer obtained by interlacing or weaving of a multiplicity of first sets of metal wires with a multiplicity of single metal wires or of second sets of metal wires and provided with substantially parallel corrugations. Such layer is coupled to a planar element consisting of a cloth or a flattened stocking formed by weaving of a single metal wire. The current collector is characterised by a low angular coefficient of the pressure/thickness ratio over a wide range of compression levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Uhdenora S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michele Perego, Leonello Carrettin, Dario Oldani, Angelo Ottaviani
  • Patent number: 8361672
    Abstract: A tubular fuel cell including: a center support member made from a wire rod; an electrolyte layer formed upon the outside of the center support member; an outer circumferential support member disposed between the center support member and the electrolyte layer, and which is made from a wire rod; a catalyst layer formed upon the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential support member, and that is in contact with the electrolyte layer; and an auxiliary outer circumferential support member provided between the center support member and the outer circumferential support member, and which is made from a wire rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Naoto Yoda
  • Patent number: 8354198
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical device including electrodes of an electrochemical cell and conductive connection members, wherein sufficient bonding strength is achieved between each of the electrodes and the corresponding conductive connection member through thermal treatment carried out at a temperature lower than 1,000° C. The electrochemical cell includes a solid electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes provided on the electrolyte membrane. The conductive connection members are electrically connected to the respective electrodes by means of a bonding layer. The bonding layer contains a transition metal oxide having a spinel-type crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ohmori, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Takashi Ryu
  • Patent number: 8349517
    Abstract: A method of coating a surface of a fuel cell plate is disclosed herein, and involves forming a sol gel mixture by mixing a weak acid and a composition including at least two metal oxide precursors. One of the metal oxide precursors is configured to be hydrolyzed by the weak acid to form a mixed metal oxide framework with an other of the metal oxide precursors having at least one organic functional group that is not hydrolyzed by the weak acid. The mixture is applied to the surface, and is condensed by exposure to air at least one predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time. The sol gel mixture is immersed in water at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to form a porous, hydrophilic, and conductive film on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wen Li, Ping Liu, Jennifer J. Zinck, Tina T. Salguero, Richard H. Blunk
  • Patent number: 8349518
    Abstract: A copper foil for a current collector of a lithium secondary battery has a crystalline structure, in which a ratio of the sum of texture coefficients of a (111) surface and a (200) surface to the total sum of texture coefficients of the (111), (200) and (220) surfaces is 60 to 85%, a ratio of the texture coefficient of the (111) surface to the total sum of texture coefficients of the (111), (200) and (220) is 18 to 38%, a ratio of the texture coefficient of the (200) surface thereto is 28 to 62%, and a ratio of the texture coefficient of the (220) surface thereto is 15 to 40%. The copper foil has surface roughness (Rz-JIS) of 2 ?m or less, weight deviation of 3% or less, tensile strength of 30 to 40 kgf/mm2, elongation of 3 to 20%, and thickness of 1 to 35 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: LS Mtron Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Young Kim, Byoung-Kwang Lee, Seung-Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 8343688
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided with a fuel cell stack assembled by sandwiching a plurality of stacked single cell modules with a plurality of fastening members through a pair of end plates. The fuel cell includes a first elastic member arranged between the fastening member and the end plate and a plurality of second elastic members arranged between the end plate and the end of the fuel cell stack. Each of the second elastic members is arranged on the surface of the end plate corresponding to the electrode portion of a membrane electrode assembly in each of the single cell module, and each of the first elastic members is arranged on the surface of the end plate corresponding to a seal member arrangement region in which the seal member is arranged between the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separator plates in each single cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsumoto, Hiroki Kusakabe, Mitsuo Yoshimura, Yoko Yamaguchi, Yoshiki Nagao
  • Patent number: 8343689
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a plurality of tubes, with each tube including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte, A mechanically compliant anode current collector is associated with each tube. An interconnect portion may be attached to the anode current collector. A cathode current collector is also associated with each tube. The interconnect portion provides an oxygen barrier between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Adaptive Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Crumm, Quinlan Y. Shuck, Jonathan R. Rice
  • Patent number: 8323851
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack that includes a non-permeable shim plate positioned between a composite unipolar plate and a terminal plate at both ends of the stack, where the shim plate is made of a non-corrosive material, such as stainless steel, titanium or sealed graphite. Because the shim plate is non-permeable, it prevents cooling fluid that diffuses through the unipolar plate from contacting the terminal plate, which would otherwise corrode the terminal plate. The shim plate can be coated with a conductive material, such as gold, platinum, ruthenium oxide or mixtures thereof, to reduce its contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Benno Andreas-Schott, Roger M. Brisbane, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
  • Patent number: 8318373
    Abstract: An MEA comprising: (i) a central first conductive gas diffusion substrate having a first face and a second face; (ii) first and second catalyst layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the first catalyst layer is in contact with the first face of the gas diffusion substrate and the first face of the second catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the gas diffusion substrate; (iii) first and second electrolyte layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the first electrolyte layer is in contact with the second face of the first catalyst layer and the first face of the second electrolyte layer is in contact with the second face of the second catalyst layer; (iv) third and fourth catalyst layers each having a first and second face and wherein the first face of the third catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the first electrolyte layer and the first face of the fourth catalyst layer is in contact with the second face of the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited
    Inventors: Hanna Katariina Rajantie, Jonathan David Brereton Sharman, David Thompsett, David Emmerson Brown, Stephen Robert Tennison, Beverley Sowerby, Vlad Strelko
  • Patent number: 8309273
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes: a membrane-electrode assembly (10) having a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (4, 8) sandwiching a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) which portion is located inwardly of a peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1); an electrically-conductive first separator (30) disposed to contact the membrane-electrode assembly (10) and formed such that a groove-like first reactant gas channel (37) is formed on one main surface thereof so as to bend; and an electrically-conductive second separator (20) disposed to contact the membrane-electrode assembly (10) and formed such that a groove-like second reactant gas channel (27) is formed on one main surface thereof so as to bend, wherein the first reactant gas channel (27) is formed such that a width of a portion of the first reactant gas channel (27) which portion is formed at least a portion (hereinafter referred to as an uppermost stream portion 8C of the first separator 30) loc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Miho Gemba, Yoichiro Tsuji, Shinsuke Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 8304141
    Abstract: The present invention releases a method of producing a metal separator for a solid polymer fuel cell by stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy during which securing lower cost and mass producibility by using a material having a high workability to form a complicated shape by a high productivity, then using an inexpensive blast process to drive a conductive substance into the surface of the metal separator member, that is, provides a stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy solid polymer fuel cell separator comprised of stainless steel, titanium, or titanium alloy in the surface of which a low ion release conductive substance is buried, having an arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of the separator surface of 0.5 to 5.0 ?m, having a 10-point mean roughness (Rz) of 3 to 20 ?m, having an average spacing of surface relief shapes (Sm) of 300 ?m or less, having values of a warp rate and twist rate of a separator of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sintokogio Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kihira, Michio Kaneko, Mitsuharu Yamagata, Koki Tanaka, Yoichi Ikematsu, Yoichi Matsuzaki, Kazuto Kawakami, Wataru Hisada, Suguru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8304112
    Abstract: The present invention discloses that the auxiliary electric conductor is additionally installed between the positive or negative electrode plates being installed at the edge inside the individual electrode cell having electrode plates and the electrode cell casing, and the insulator is further installed between the electrode plate and the auxiliary electric conductor thereby favoring currents of the current collecting terminals at multiple end sides of the electrode plates of the same polarity to be collected to the single end side current collecting terminal structure being used as the input/output interface terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8304142
    Abstract: A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is provided in which the structure is simplified and the thickness is reduced without impairing diffusibility of fuel, air and generated products. An anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer sandwich an electrolyte membrane. Liquid fuel stored in a fuel chamber is directly supplied to the anode catalyst layer. Current collectors are respectively provided adjacent to the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. Each of the current collectors is formed of a flat conductive sheet in which a plurality of fine pores is provided to extend through the current collector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar direction. A part or the entirety of each current collector is embedded in a respective catalyst layer, and the sides of each current collector defining the pores are tapered with respect to a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar direction of the catalyst layer in which the current collector is embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Imura
  • Patent number: 8304143
    Abstract: An electrically conductive plate for fuel cell applications comprises a plate body having at least one channel-defining surface and an electrically conductive hydrophilic layer disposed over at least a portion of the channel-defining surface. The electrically conductive layer includes residues of a silane coupling agent and electrically conductive hydrophilic carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Blunk, Feng Zhong, Tina T. Salguero, Kevin W. Kirby
  • Patent number: 8298723
    Abstract: A metal separator 1 for a fuel cell according to the invention is a metal separator for a fuel cell manufactured by using a metal substrate 2 with a flat surface, or with concave gas flow paths formed on at least a part of the surface. The metal separator 1 includes an acid-resistant metal film 3 formed over the surface of the metal substrate 2, and containing one or more kinds of non-noble metals selected from the group comprised of Zr, Nb, and Ta, and a conductive alloy film 4 formed over the acid-resistant metal film 3, and containing one or more kinds of noble metals selected from the group comprised of Au and Pt, and one or more kinds of non-noble metals selected from the group comprised of Zr, Nb, and Ta. A method for manufacturing the metal separator for a fuel cell according to the invention includes a step S1 of depositing an acid-resistant metal film, and a step S2 of depositing a conductive alloy film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Tanifuji, Hirotaka Ito, Toshiki Sato, Jun Suzuki, Yoshinori Ito, Jun Hisamoto
  • Patent number: 8293427
    Abstract: A separator unit is inserted between adjacent stacked fuel cells, in each of which an electrolyte layer is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode. The separator unit includes a sheet-shaped gas barrier member, which blocks a gas, and a collector, which is inserted between the gas barrier member and the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and which is provided with a plurality of openings that diffuse the gas. The collector is provided with an electrode contact portion, which is made up of a flat, porous panel that is in contact with the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and collects power, and a gas barrier member contact portion, which is made up of a linear piece that forms a gas flow route by being in contact with the gas barrier member and supports the electrode contact portion. A height dimension of the gas barrier member contact portion is smaller than an equivalent diameter of an opening in the electrode contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Equos Research
    Inventors: Noriyuki Takada, Toshihiko Nonobe
  • Patent number: 8288032
    Abstract: An energy storage device cell includes: a capacitor cathode including a capacitor cathode collector foil, and a capacitor cathode electrode layer formed on one face of the capacitor cathode collector foil and containing microparticles of activated carbon; a first separator; a common anode including an anode collector foil having a through-hole, and an anode electrode layer formed on one face of the anode collector foil; a second separator; and a battery cathode including a battery cathode collector foil, and a battery cathode electrode layer formed on one face of the battery cathode collector foil and containing particles of a lithium-containing metal compound. The first separator is sandwiched by the capacitor cathode electrode layer and the anode electrode layer. The second separator is sandwiched by the anode collector foil and the battery cathode electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenro Mitsuda, Osamu Hiroi, Daigo Takemura, Shigeru Aihara
  • Patent number: 8283084
    Abstract: There is provided a hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of improving power density per unit volume, wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a hollow solid electrolyte membrane, an outer electrode layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane and an inner electrode layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, and wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is formed in the shape of a spiral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeaki Murata, Haruyuki Nakanishi, Masahiro Imanishi, Yoshihisa Tamura
  • Patent number: 8273503
    Abstract: A high-temperature fuel cell system includes individual SOFC fuel cells which are in contact with each other for electrically connecting the same in parallel or in series. In at least one embodiment, contacting elements that are suitable for the fuel cell system with a certain flexibility in addition to the required electrical conductivity for continuous operation. The contacting elements between two fuel cells are formed by a metal wire mesh that is advantageously made of nickel. Such nickel wires can be mechanically transformed into a continuous mesh, especially a tube, from which sections having a suitable length can be cut and be provided with the proper shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Fleck, Harald Landes
  • Patent number: 8273482
    Abstract: An electrode having a current collector with a plurality of through holes, and active material layers provided on both sides of the current collector. The current collector has projections extending on the top side or on the back side of the current collector from edges of the through holes, and an angle between each of the projections and a surface direction of the current collector is in the range of 30 to 80°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuo Naoi, Kazutoshi Emoto, Kiyonori Hinoki, Masahiro Saegusa, Kenji Nishizawa, Mitsuo Kougo
  • Patent number: 8247135
    Abstract: The invention is a flexible, micro-fabricated fuel cell and fuel cell stack that can be helically wound or bend into cylindrical shapes. The electrolyte is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) upon which can be printed, by ink jet means, the anode and cathode electrodes and the current collectors that convey current to or from the edges of the PEM which has a thickness on the order of 0.001 to 0.010 inch. Pluralities of the series connected fuel cell stacks can be arranged in electrical and physical parallel with one another to provide what are batteries of fuel cell stacks that can be connected by manifolds to sources of fuel and oxidizer. The invention is directed to a thin, light-weight, flexible fuel cell assembly that can be produced in ambient conditions using standard micro-fabrication techniques, such as thick film printing and ink jet deposition. Thick film printing techniques, screen printing or ink jet printing, are used to deposit porous current collectors on either side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Jesse S. Wainright, Laurie A. Dudik, Chung-Chiun Liu
  • Publication number: 20120208094
    Abstract: A catalyst including: a plurality of porous clusters of silver particles, each cluster of the clusters including: (a) a plurality of primary particles of silver, and (b) crystalline particles of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), wherein at least a portion of the crystalline particles of ZrO2 is located in pores formed by a surface of the plurality of primary particles of silver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Ernst KHASIN, Arie ZABAN
  • Publication number: 20120208104
    Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed which comprises a casing (12) and an electrode assembly in the casing. The electrode assembly comprises a porous substrate (36) and first and second electrodes (46, 48) on one side of the substrate. Third and fourth electrodes (60, 62) are provided on the other side of the substrate. Each electrode includes a tab (36, 38, 42, and 44) by means of which an electrical connection can be made to that electrode. There is electrolyte in the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Mioxide Mining (Pty) Ltd
    Inventor: Jan Petrus Human
  • Patent number: 8241815
    Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) device having a gradient interconnect is provided, including a first gradient interconnect having opposing first and second surfaces, a first trench formed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect, a second trench formed over the second surface of the first gradient interconnect, and an interconnecting tunnel formed in the first gradient interconnect for connecting the first and second trenches. A first porous conducting disc is placed in the first trench and partially protrudes over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect. A first sealing layer is placed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect and surrounds the first trench. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is placed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect and contacted with the first porous conducting disc and the first sealing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Dong-Hau Kuo, Ren-Kae Shiue, Hung-Li Hsu, Ming-Hsiung Wei
  • Patent number: 8232025
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Société BIC
    Inventors: Gerard F. McLean, Anna Stukas, Jeremy Schrooten
  • Patent number: 8232026
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is provided to include a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate includes a metal substrate defining at least one flow channel having a channel span of no greater than 1.0 millimeter; and the metal substrate includes a stainless steel material less precious than stainless steel SS316L. In certain instances, the channel span is of 0.7 to 0.9 millimeters. In certain other instances, the flow channel has a channel depth of 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters. In yet other instances, the plate substrate includes stainless steel SS301, stainless steel SS302, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the electrochemical cell further includes a gas diffusion layer disposed next to the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Atul Kumar, Mark Stephens Ricketts, Shinichi Hirano
  • Publication number: 20120183886
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an energy storage device having a first electrode supported by a first collector sheet; a second electrode supported by a second collector sheet; and a dielectric separator therebetween, all spirally wound together. A container houses this spiral winding, with the first collector sheet having an end in contact with the base and the second collector sheet having an end oriented towards an opening opposite to the base. A collector plate is interposed between the second collector sheet and the opening and is restrained in posibion by a crimp in the container. A lid is positioned in the opening and has one side in electrical contact with the collector plate an an opposite side oriented outwardly of the container. The lid is restrained in position by rolling the one or more container walls over the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Xiaomei Xi, Porter Mitchell, James Borkenhagen, Robert Crawford, Michael Everett, Alexandre Fresard