Composite Material Patents (Class 429/520)
  • Patent number: 11611081
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lithium ion secondary battery, a battery core, a negative electrode plate and an apparatus containing the lithium ion secondary battery. The lithium ion secondary battery includes a battery core and an electrolytic solution, the battery core including a positive electrode plate comprising a positive current collector and a positive active material layer, a separator, and a negative electrode plate comprising a negative current collector and a negative active material layer, wherein the positive current collector and/or the negative current collector are a composite current collector, the composite current collector comprises a polymer-based support layer and a conductive layer disposed on at least one surface of the support layer, and the composite current collector has a thermal conductivity in a range of 0.01 W/(m·K) to 10 W/(m·K), preferably in a range of 0.1 W/(m·K) to 2 W/(m·K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Xin Liu, Qisen Huang, Shiwen Wang, Xianghui Liu, Jia Peng, Mingling Li, Changliang Sheng
  • Patent number: 11349127
    Abstract: In a cell stack, each of the plurality of the electrochemical cells includes an alloy member, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer. The alloy member includes a base member constituted by an alloy material containing chromium, a coating film that covers at least a part of a surface of the base member, and a separation inhibiting portion that inhibits the coating film from separating from the base member. The number of the separation inhibiting portions included in the alloy member of the central electrochemical cell is larger than the number of the separation inhibiting portions included in the alloy member of the end electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Tanaka, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Makoto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 11052492
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an alloy as a brazing alloy for an electric switch braze joint, an electric switch braze joint, an electric switch and a method of producing an electric switch braze joint. The alloy composition of said the alloy consists of at least one element selected from each of group I and group II listed below, and a balance of impurities, Ag, and at least one of Cu, and Zn. Group I encompasses Cd, Mn, Ni, P, Sb, Si, Sn, Ti, and oxides thereof in a total amount of 0.5 to 45.0 wt. %. Group II encompasses Bi, Mo, Te, W, and oxides thereof, oxides of Cu and Zn in a total amount of 0.1 to 15.0 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Moritz Boehm, Thomas Schmoelzer, Gunnar Johansson
  • Patent number: 10833336
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a separator for a fuel cell, includes: setting a metal plate and first and second electro-conductive resin sheets between first and second dies; and forming a flow channel in the metal plate and the first and second electro-conductive resin sheets by hot pressing with the first and second dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9997797
    Abstract: An electrochemical reaction unit which includes a unit cell including an electrolyte layer, a cathode, and an anode facing each other in a first direction; a current collector disposed on a cathode side of the unit cell; and an electrically conductive porous bonding layer. A bonding region contains a block portion and an electrical conductivity securing portion. The block portion has a pore having a diameter that is 20% or more than the thickness of the bonding region in the first direction. The block portion extends inward from one of opposite ends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the bonding region, and reaches and contains the pore satisfying the pore requirement. The electrical conductivity securing portion is located toward the other end of the bonding region and has a smaller average diameter of pores than the block portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Sato, Makoto Kuribayashi, Tomoki Murata, Takahiro Masumoto, Tomo-o Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9011713
    Abstract: Provided are a composite including a lithium titanium oxide and a bismuth titanium oxide, a method of manufacturing the composite, an anode active material including the composite, an anode including the anode active material, and a lithium secondary battery having improved cell performance by including the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-sang Song, Kyu-sung Park, Gue-sung Kim, Young-min Choi
  • Patent number: 9005835
    Abstract: This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Blanchet, Amedeo Conti, James C. Cross, III
  • Patent number: 8999605
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment discloses a bipolar plate assembly including a cathode plate and an anode plate. Each of the cathode plate and the anode plate includes a core material, a first surface material coupled to a first side of the core material, and a second surface material coupled to a second side of the core material, wherein the first surface material and the second surface material have a different composition from the core material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John R. Bradley, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
  • Publication number: 20150086905
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a composite body in which the Cr diffusion can be sufficiently reduced and conductivity is good, a collector member, a fuel battery cell device, and a fuel battery device. [Solution] The composite body includes a substrate 200 containing Cr, and a coating layer 205 covering at least a part of the substrate 200, in which the coating layer 205 includes a first layer 201 containing Cr among constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a chromium oxide crystal, a second layer 202 disposed on the first layer 201, containing Zn, Al, and Cr among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a spinel type crystal, a third layer 203 disposed on the second layer 202, containing Zn and Mn among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a spinel type crystal, and a fourth layer 204 disposed on the third layer 203, containing Zn among the constituent elements excluding oxygen, and including a zinc oxide crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fujimoto, Masahiko Higashi
  • Publication number: 20150079498
    Abstract: A strip product consists of a metallic substrate, such as stainless steel, and a coating, which in turn comprises at least one metallic layer and one reactive layer. The coated strip product is produced by providing the different layers, preferably by coating, and thereafter oxidizing the coating to accomplish a conductive surface layer comprising perovskite and/or spinel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Mikael Schuisky, Finn Petersen, Niels Christiansen, Joergen Gutzon Larsen, Soeren Linderoth, Lars Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 8980138
    Abstract: A mixture of spherical graphite, carbon black and binder resin is fabricated. The mixture contains the spherical graphite of not less than 50 parts by weight and not more than 70 parts by weight, the carbon black of not less than 1 part by weight and not more than 15 parts by weight and the binder resin of not less than 15 parts by weight and not more than 40 parts by weight, to 100 parts by weight of the mixture. The binder resin includes thermosetting resin and elastomer, and an average particle diameter of the spherical graphite is not less than 1 ?m and not more than 30 ?m. The conductive composition including the mixture can be used for a collector such as a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8962218
    Abstract: A multilayer contact approach for use in a planar solid oxide fuel cell stack includes at least 3 layers of an electrically conductive perovskite which has a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matching the fuel cell material. The perovskite material may comprise La1-xEx Co0.6Ni0.4O3 where E is a alkaline earth metal and x is greater than or equal to zero. The middle layer is a stress relief layer which may fracture during thermal cycling to relieve stress, but remains conductive and prevents mechanical damage of more critical interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Versa Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinge Zhang, Anthony Wood, Michel Riou
  • Patent number: 8956784
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a fuel cell plate. The fuel cell plate includes a substrate of electrically conductive material and a first outer layer of corrosion-resistant material bonded to a first portion of the substrate. To reduce the weight of the fuel cell plate, the electrically conductive material and the corrosion-resistant material are selected to be as light as practicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay M. Iyer, Jean L. Lee, Gregory L. Tice
  • Patent number: 8865372
    Abstract: A lamellar structure graphite foil is used as a material for a separator for a fuel cell, and a hydrophobic layer is formed by impregnation on flow-field channels of the graphite foil. Such a separator is manufactured by forming the flow field channel by etching the graphite foil formed with the mask pattern thereon and forming a hydrophobic layer by impregnation. According to such a separator, performance of a fuel cell stack is enhanced and the manufacturing process of a separator is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fuelcell Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho-Suk Kim, Byung-Sun Hong, Mee-Nam Shinn
  • Publication number: 20140308602
    Abstract: Provided are a collector plate for a fuel cell, which has low contact resistance and excellent corrosion resistance, and can be reliably used for a long period of time, while exhibiting excellent cost performance, and a method of producing the collector plate for a fuel cell. A collector plate for a fuel cell (1), which is provided on both ends of a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cell units are stacked and is used for collecting current, includes: an aluminum substrate (2) formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy; and an Ni plating film (4); a noble metal plating film (5) including one or more noble metals selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, Ag, Rh, Ir, Os, and Ru; and an Au plating film (6), the films being formed on one surface of the aluminum substrate (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Nishikawa, Yoshiyuki Hatazawa, Yoshihiro Taguchi, Toshihiro Nakagawa, Atsushi Oota
  • Patent number: 8785077
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide a fuel cell connection component, including an interconnect or a current collector. The fuel cell connection component includes conductive fibers oriented at an angle of less than about 90° to at least one electrode in the fuel cell. The fuel cell connection component provides an electrically conductive pathway from the at least one electrode of the fuel cell to an external circuit or to an electrode of a different fuel cell. Embodiments of the present invention also provide fuel cells that include the fuel cell connection component, including fuel cell layers, and methods of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Jeremy Schrooten, Mark Petersen, Jean-Louis Iaconis, David Lo, Paul Sobejko
  • Patent number: 8778561
    Abstract: An electrocatalytic polymer-based powder has particles of at least one electronically conductive polymer species in which particles are dispersed of at least one catalytic redox species, in which the particles of the polymer species and of the catalytic species are of nanometric dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Raffaele Vecchione, Giuseppe Mensitieri, Anna Borriello
  • Patent number: 8771900
    Abstract: A hydrophobic composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a substrate having a composite material including carbon and a surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer includes silicon and oxygen, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard H. Blunk
  • Patent number: 8735022
    Abstract: A product comprising a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising nanoparticles having sizes ranging from 2 to 100 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Harald Schlag, Ralf Senner, Thomas A. Trabold, Thomas W. Tighe, Gayatri Vyas, Keith E. Newman
  • Patent number: 8685593
    Abstract: A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The carbon layer is overcoated with a silicon oxide layer to form a silicon oxide/carbon bilayer. The silicon oxide/carbon bilayer may be activated to increase hydrophilicity. 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: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Michael J. Lukitsch
  • Patent number: 8617769
    Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material of the coating film. A film of a paste containing the mixture of the powders is formed on the surface of the interconnector, and with this state, the paste is sintered to form the coating film. In the coating body, a chromia layer including Cr2O3, a first layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and O, and a second layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, and O are provided in this order from the side close to the interconnector at the boundary between the coating film and the interconnector. With this structure, the coating film is difficult to be peeled even if the coating body is placed in a severe temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ohmori, Takashi Ryu, Toshiyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8592096
    Abstract: A separator plate for a fuel cell is provided, including a substrate having a radiation-cured first flow field layer disposed thereon. A method for fabricating the separator plate is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate; applying a first radiation-sensitive material to the substrate; placing a first mask between a first radiation source and the first radiation-sensitive material, the first mask having a plurality of substantially radiation-transparent apertures; and exposing the first radiation-sensitive material to a plurality of first radiation beams to form a radiation-cured first flow field layer adjacent the substrate. A fuel cell having the separator plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Yeh-Hung Lai, Keith E. Newman, Gerald W. Fly, Alan J. Jacobsen, Peter D. Brewer, William B. Carter
  • Patent number: 8592098
    Abstract: Disclosed are a metal separator for fuel cells, which exhibits excellent properties in terms of corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and durability, and a method of manufacturing the same. The metal separator for fuel cells includes a separator-shaped metal matrix and a coating layer formed on the metal matrix. The coating layer has a concentration gradient of a carbon element C and a metal element Me according to a thickness thereof such that the carbon element C becomes gradually concentrated in the coating layer with increasing distance from the metal matrix, and the metal element Me becomes gradually concentrated in the coating layer with decreasing distance from the metal matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Hysco
    Inventors: Yoo-Taek Jeon, Eun-Young Kim, Yeon-Soo Jeong, Ki-Jung Kim, Man-Been Moon
  • Patent number: 8562728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing proton-conducting clay particles, successively comprising the following steps: a) a step of activating a clay powder, comprising a step in which the said powder is subjected to a gas plasma; b) a grafting step comprising a step of placing the activated powder obtained from step a) in contact with a solution comprising at least one compound comprising at least one group chosen from —PO3H2, —CO2H and —SO3H and salts thereof and comprising at least one group capable of grafting onto the surface of the said powder. Use of these particles for the manufacture of fuel cell membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Hervé Galiano, Magaly Caravanier-Caillon, Philippe Bebin, Patrick Hourquebie, Faïza Bergaya, Fabienne Poncin Epaillard, Fabrice Lafleche
  • Publication number: 20130260285
    Abstract: A brazing alloy for bonding in air contains Ag, B, and Si, as essential components, in which the total of constituent elements except for Ag is set to more than 50% by volume and not more than 90% by volume, Si content in the constituent elements except for Ag is set to more than 22% by volume, and B content in the constituent elements except for Ag is set to more than 14% by volume. In a bonded layer of a bonded specimen of the present invention, after holding at high temperature, no void as observed in a bonded specimen after holding at high temperature of a Comparative Sample is observed, the brazing alloy is sufficiently melted, and superior gas sealing characteristics are maintained even after holding at high temperature for a long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yamauchi, Shinji Saito
  • Patent number: 8546046
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a bi-polar plate of a fuel cell and the bi-polar plate thereof are presented. A graphite film is formed first. Next, a polymeric material added with electrically conductive powder is coated on a surface of a metal substrate. The graphite film is disposed on the polymeric material and the polymeric material is hardened to form an adhesive layer, such that the graphite film is attached on the surface of the metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wen-Lin Wang, Chun-Hsing Wu, Kan-Lin Hsueh, Huan-Ruei Shiu, Wen-Chen Chang, Fang-Hei Tsau, Lung-Yu Sung
  • Patent number: 8518603
    Abstract: This invention provides a highly electrically conductive sheet molding compound (SMC) composition and a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate made from such a composition. The composition comprises a top sheet, a bottom sheet, and a resin mixture sandwiched between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. At least one of the top sheet and bottom sheet comprises a flexible graphite sheet, which has a substantially planar outer surface having formed therein a fluid flow channel. Further, the resin mixture comprises a thermoset resin and a conductive filler present in a sufficient quantity to render the flow field plate electrically conductive enough to be a current collector (preferably with a conductivity no less than 100 S/cm). Preferably, both the top and bottom surfaces are flexible graphite sheets, each having a substantially planar outer surface having therein a fluid flow channel formed by embossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130209917
    Abstract: An electrical conductive member (20) includes a metal substrate (21), an intermediate layer (23) formed on the metal substrate (21), and an electrical conductive layer (25) formed on the intermediate layer (23). The intermediate layer (23) contains a constituent of the metal substrate (21), a constituent of the electrical conductive layer (25), and a crystallization inhibiting component that inhibits crystallization in the intermediate layer (23). According to this configuration, the electrical conductive member having excellent electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Tomokatsu Himeno, Keisuke Yamamoto, Atsushi Miyazawa, Motoki Yaginuma
  • Publication number: 20130209918
    Abstract: A mixture of spherical graphite, carbon black and binder resin is fabricated. The mixture contains the spherical graphite of not less than 50 parts by weight and not more than 70 parts by weight, the carbon black of not less than 1 part by weight and not more than 15 parts by weight and the binder resin of not less than 15 parts by weight and not more than 40 parts by weight, to 100 parts by weight of the mixture. The binder resin includes thermosetting resin and elastomer, and an average particle diameter of the spherical graphite is not less than 1 ?m and not more than 30 ?m. The conductive composition including the mixture can be used for a collector such as a fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nitto Denko Corporation
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20120321994
    Abstract: The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Zhien Liu, Richard Goettler
  • Publication number: 20120315564
    Abstract: A composite body includes a substrate containing Cr; and a first composite oxide layer disposed on at least a part of a surface of the substrate, the first composite oxide layer having a spinel type crystal structure, a first largest content and a second largest content among constituent elements excluding oxygen of the first composite oxide layer being Zn and Al in random order. Accordingly, the composite body can suppress diffusion of Cr from the substrate containing Cr to the first composite oxide layer, and has improved long-term reliability. A collector member and a gas tank, each of which is formed of the composite body, can have improved long-term reliability. A fuel cell device having excellent long-term reliability can be obtained using the collector member and the gas tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fujimoto, Masahiko Higashi
  • Patent number: 8252484
    Abstract: A high-performance separator for a fuel cell is provided that includes an electrically conducting flow path part and an integrated insulating outer circumferential part surrounding the flow path part. The flow path part includes an electrically conducting resin composition including a carbonaceous material (A) and a thermoplastic resin composition (B) at a mass ratio (A)/(B) of 1 to 20 with the total mass of (A) and (B) accounting for 80 to 100 mass % in the composition. The flow path part has a corrugated shape having a recess and a projection on each of front and back surfaces thereof, where the recess constitutes a groove for a flow path, and a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and a maximum thickness/minimum thickness ratio of 1 to 3. The insulating outer circumferential part includes an insulating thermoplastic resin composition having a volume resistivity of 1010 ?cm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Showa Denko K.K., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Iino, Zenichiro Izumi, Yukihito Tanaka, Toshiki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8252483
    Abstract: A lightweight, compact high-performance fuel cell separator is provided with enhanced output density and capable of being stacked without a gas seal member. Embodiments include a separator having a corrugated electrically conducting flow path. A recess and projection are formed on front and rear surfaces, each constituting a gas flow path alternately arrayed abreast in a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Showa Denko K.K., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Iino, Zenichiro Izumi, Yukihito Tanaka, Toshiki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8221938
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell component having comprising a carbon chain, and a material grafted to the coating/surface, wherein the material includes ionic or polar groups. One embodiment includes composite plates which include carbon that can be activated and treated to make their surface hydrophilic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • Patent number: 8197714
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrically conductive composite having high conductivity, hermeticity, high mechanical strength, low surface roughness, lightweight, and thin profile. The composite comprises a rubber modified with vinyl ester resin. After curing in mold, the composite may serve as a bipolar plate in a fuel cell. For example, the bipolar plate is combined with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to form a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Min-Yu Yen, Jiann-Jong Su, Jen-Dong Hwang, Yi-Yie Yan
  • Patent number: 8182659
    Abstract: Electrochemical cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. An electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode or the outer face of the anode. The porous pad comprises a particulate or mat of one or more doped- or reduced-valve metal oxides, which are bound together with one or more thermoplastic resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony B. LaConti, Larry L. Swette
  • Patent number: 8168350
    Abstract: A channeled metal clad fiber comprises one or more surface channels that extend along directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of such fiber. Metal clad fibers may include multiple protective layers, and one or more protective layers may contain multiple conductors therein. A microfibrous fuel cell structure includes a hollow microfibrous membrane separator having an electrolyte medium therein and defining a bore side and a shell side. An inner current collector formed of a channeled metal clad or unclad metal fiber, and an inner electrocatalyst layer are positioned at the bore side of such fuel cell, and an outer current collector and an outer electrocatalyst layer are positioned at the shell side thereof. Surface channels on the inner current collector provide inner fluid passages for passing a fuel-containing or an oxidant-containing fluid through the microfibrous fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Microcell Corporation
    Inventor: Ray R. Eshraghi
  • Publication number: 20120064436
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an interconnecting plate for a solid oxide fuel cell, a manufacturing method thereof, and a solid oxide fuel cell using the interconnecting plate. The interconnecting plate for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal substrate; and a conductive ceramic protective layer surrounding the metal substrate, wherein the ceramic protective layer is formed by disposing and stacking the metal substrate between a pair of ceramic sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bon Seok KOO, Jong Sik YOON, Jae Hyuk JANG
  • Patent number: 8124298
    Abstract: Provided are a metallic separator for fuel cell in which a Cr2N layer is formed on the surface of base metals, and a method of fabricating the metallic separator or fuel cell. The method comprises: plating chromium layer on the surface of the base metal; and forming a Cr2N layer by nitriding the chromium-plated layer in properly selected nitriding conditions. Only the Cr2N layer, which has lower electrical resistivity than CrN, is selectively fabricated on the surface of the base metal. The interfacial contact resistance of the separator is reduced and the efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved. In addition, since a low-priced general metals or alloys such as stainless steels, carbon steels, alloy steels or even nonferrous alloys can be used as the base metal, the cost of the fabrication of metallic separator can be significantly reduced. The thickness of the separator can be made as small as to 0.2 mm, the weight and total thickness of a fuel cell stack can be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seoul National University Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Dae Geun Nam, Hu Chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20120015284
    Abstract: A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area carbon core structure and a surface modifier modifying the surface of the carbon core structure. The surface modifier includes boron-doped diamond (BDD) and a high surface area refractory material. The high surface area refractory material includes metal oxides, metal phosphates, metal borides, metal nitrides, metal silicides, metal carbides and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: UTC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Lesia V. Protsailo, Minhua Shao
  • Publication number: 20110287336
    Abstract: An electrical conductive member includes: an electrical conductive structure including: a substrate (31, 152, 252, 352, 452); an electrical conductive carbon layer (33, 155, 254, 354, 454) provided on at least one surface of the substrate and containing electrical conductive carbon; and a middle layer (32, 154, 256, 356, 456) interposed between the substrate and the electrical conductive carbon layer. An intensity ratio R (ID/IG) of a D-band peak intensity (ID) to a G-band peak intensity (IG) measured by a Raman scattering spectroscopic analysis in the electrical conductive carbon layer is 1.3 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomokatsu Himeno, Atsushi Miyazawa, Motoki Yaginuma, Keisuke Yamamoto, Keiji Oakada, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Yasuhiro Numao, Toshihiko Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20110281194
    Abstract: A heat-resistant alloy capable of effectively suppressing diffusion of Cr, as well as an alloy member for a fuel cell, a fuel cell stack device, a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device are provided. A heat-resistant alloy includes a Cr-containing alloy, and a Cr-diffusion suppression layer located on at least a part of a surface of the Cr-containing alloy, the Cr-diffusion suppression layer being made by laminating a first layer that contains a Zn-containing oxide and a second layer that does not contain ZnO but contains an (La, Sr)MnO3-based perovskite oxide in that order, so that it is possible to effectively suppress diffusion of Cr. By using the heat-resistant alloy for an alloy member for a fuel cell, a fuel cell stack device, a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device each having improved reliability can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Higashi, Tetsurou Fujimoto, Norimitsu Fukami, Kenji Shimazu
  • Patent number: 8039171
    Abstract: A current-collecting composite plate for a fuel cell configured with unit cells according to the present invention, which comprises: an insulator layer; and a plurality of pairs of conductor layers, the conductor layers being bonded to the insulator layer to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, each pair being used for adjacently disposed anode and cathode electrodes for a different one of the unit cells by sandwiching an electrolyte assembly therebetween. And, each conductor layer includes: a first conductor layer of a corrosion resistant metal treated with an electrically conductive surface treatment; a second conductor layer of a metal with low electrical resistivity; a through-hole penetrating the first conductor layer and the insulator layer; and a connecting portion formed of the second conductor layer for connecting the unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Seido, Kazuhiko Nakagawa, Takaaki Sasaoka, Mineo Washima
  • Patent number: 8026019
    Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell comprises a membrane formed from a fluorocarbon ionic polymer material capable of being bonded to an acrylic, preferably a polymethylmethacrylate polymer, and at least one desirably electrically conductive plate bonded to an area of a face of the membrane via an acrylic plastic material. The bond may be accomplished by positioning a layer of the acrylic plastic material between a surface of the plate and an area of a face of the membrane. Alternatively, the plate may be constructed of the acrylic plastic material and a surface thereof may be bonded directly to an area of a face of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: NK Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Trung Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8003279
    Abstract: An electrically conductive element for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having low electrical contact resistance and high corrosion resistance. The conductive element comprises a corrosion susceptible metal substrate with a surface, which is preferably treated to activate the surface (i.e., to remove a passivation layer of oxides from the surface) with an acidic treatment solution. The treated surface is then overlaid with an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant, protective coating to protect the substrate re-forming a passivation layer while exposed to the corrosive environment of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Budinski
  • Patent number: 7960071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a fuel cell made of a metal plate comprising both a cooling water flow field and a gas flow field formed on each surface thereof, wherein the separator consists of the joined metal plates for the cooling water flow fields to face each other, the surfaces of the joined metal plates are coated with TiN, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell comprising the separator and a method for manufacturing the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: In-Hwan Oh, Eun Ae Cho, Sung-Goon Kang, Ui Sik Jeon, Heung Yong Ha, Seong Ahn Hong, Tae Hoon Lim, Suk-Woo Nam, Sung Pil Yoon, Jonghee Han
  • Publication number: 20110111327
    Abstract: Powders of respective metal elements (Mn, Co) constituting a transition metal oxide (MnCo2O4) having a spinel type crystal structure are used as a starting material of the coating film. A film of a paste containing the mixture of the powders is formed on the surface of the interconnector, and with this state, the paste is sintered to form the coating film. In the coating body, a chromia layer including Cr2O3, a first layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and O, and a second layer including elements of Mn, Co, Fe, and O are provided in this order from the side close to the interconnector at the boundary between the coating film and the interconnector. With this structure, the coating film is difficult to be peeled even if the coating body is placed in a severe temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto OHMORI, Takashi RYU, Toshiyuki NAKAMURA