Abstract: A condensation detection element comprises a condensation detection unit, the condensation detection unit being formed on a first substrate unit, and a peripheral circuit unit, the peripheral circuit unit being formed on a second substrate unit. The condensation detection unit comprises a thin wire electrode of a first metal and a thin wire electrode of a second metal. The condensation detection unit is configured to detect the presence or absence of water droplet that comes into contact with the thin wire electrode of the first metal and the thin wire electrode of the second metal by a current flowing between the thin wire electrode of the first metal and the thin wire electrode of the second metal. The first substrate unit has a higher thermal conductivity and a lower heat capacity than the second substrate unit.

Abstract: Provided herein are energy storage device electrode films comprising a hybrid electrode film, and methods of forming such multilayer hybrid electrode films and energy storage devices comprising multilayer hybrid electrode films. Each hybrid electrode film may comprise a self-supporting dry coated active layer and a wet cast active layer, wherein each active layer comprises a binder and an active material. The binder and/or active material may be the same or different as any other active layer. The hybrid multilayer electrode film may further comprise at least one additional layer, and the hybrid multilayer electrode film may be laminated with a current collector to form an electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell cathode electrode, comprising a porous skeletal medium, the surface of which medium is modified or otherwise arranged or constructed to induce enhanced activated behaviour, wherein the enhanced activated behaviour is induced by means of increasing the surface area for a given volume of the electrode and/or by increasing the number and/or availability of reactive sites on the electrode. A fuel cell having such a cathode electrode, a method of manufacturing such a cathode electrode, and use of such a cathode electrode in a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide, at a low cost, a porous metal body that can be used in an electrode of a fuel cell and that has better corrosion resistance. The porous metal body has a three-dimensional mesh-like structure and contains nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), and chromium (Cr). A content ratio of the tin is 10% by mass or more and 25% by mass or less, and a content ratio of the chromium is 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less. On a cross section of a skeleton of the porous metal body, the porous metal body contains a solid solution phase of chromium, nickel, and tin. The solid solution phase contains a solid solution phase of chromium and trinickel tin (Ni3Sn), the solid solution phase having a chromium content ratio of 2% by mass or less, and does not contain a solid solution phase that is other than a solid solution phase of chromium and trinickel tin (Ni3Sn) and that has a chromium content ratio of less than 1.5% by mass.

Abstract: A gas decomposition device 100 includes one or two or more membrane electrode assemblies 5, each including a solid electrolyte layer 2, an anode layer 3 stacked on a first side of the solid electrolyte layer 2, and a cathode layer 4 stacked on a second side of the solid electrolyte layer; and porous current collectors 8a, 8b, and 8c including continuous pores 1b, the membrane electrode assemblies being stacked with the porous current collector, the solid electrolyte layer being composed of a proton-conducting solid electrolyte, the porous current collectors including porous metal bodies 1, each of the porous metal bodies 1 including an alloy layer 12a having corrosion resistance on at least a surface of the porous metal body 1 facing the continuous pores, and the porous metal bodies forming gas channels 9a, 9b, and 9c that supply gases to the anode layer and the cathode layer.

Abstract: An interconnector, or bipolar plate, for a high-temperature solid electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a sintered chromium alloy which has sintering pores and contains >90% by weight of Cr, from 3 to 8% by weight of Fe and optionally from 0.001 to 2% by weight of at least one element of the group of rare earth metals. The chromium alloy contains from 0.1 to 2% by weight of Al and the sintering pores are at least partially filled with an oxidic compound containing Al and Cr. The interconnector has a high impermeability to gas and dimensional stability.

Abstract: A cathode current collector for a lithium-air battery includes a carbon-free, conductive, porous matrix. The matrix may include a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal oxide and/or a metal halide. Example matrix materials are antimony-doped tin oxide and titanium oxide. A carbon-free cathode exhibits improved mechanical and electrochemical properties including improved cycle life relative to conventional carbon-containing porous cathode current collectors.

Abstract: A partly oxidized substrate is disclosed. According to one aspect, the substrate is formed by subjecting a substrate made of a porous metal or metal alloy including particles of at least one metal or metal alloy bound by sintering. The substrate includes a first main surface and a second main surface. The porosity of the substrate gradually changes from the first main surface to the second main surface. The substrate is partially oxidized by an oxidizing gas such as oxygen and/or air. A method for preparing the substrate and high temperature electrolyzer (THE) cell including the substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprises a substrate formed of stainless steel; an oriented amorphous carbon film formed at least on a surface of the substrate facing an electrode, and containing C as a main component, 3 to 20 at. % of N, and more than 0 at. % and not more than 20 at. % of H, and when the total amount of the C is taken as 100 at. %, the amount of C having an sp2 hybrid orbital (Csp2) being not less than 70 at. % and less than 100 at. %, and (002) planes of graphite being oriented along a thickness direction; a mixed layer generated in an interface between the substrate and the oriented amorphous carbon film and containing at least one kind of constituent atoms of each of the substrate and the oriented amorphous carbon film; and a plurality of projections protruding from the mixed layer into the oriented amorphous carbon film and having a mean length of 10 to 150 nm.

Abstract: A first metal separator and an electrolyte electrode assembly are stacked in a fuel cell. The first metal separator comprises a convex portion that abuts against the electrolyte electrode assembly, and a concave portion forming an oxygen-containing gas flow channel between the electrolyte electrode assembly and the concave portion. A gold coating layer is formed on the convex portion. The gold coating layer includes a main gold coating portion and a reticulate gold coating portion that extends around the main gold coating portion.

Abstract: An interconnect for a fuel cell stack includes a first plurality of ribs extending from a first major surface of the interconnect and defining a first plurality of gas flow channels between the ribs, the ribs extending between a first rib end and a second rib end and having a tapered profile in a vertical dimension, perpendicular to the first major surface of the interconnect, proximate at least one of the first rib end and the second rib end, wherein the ribs comprise a flat upper surface and rounded edges between the flat upper surface and the adjacent gas flow channels, the rounded edges having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the gas flow channels comprise a rounded surface having a second radius of curvature, different from the first radius of curvature.

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.

Abstract: A battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics is provided. A current collector containing copper (Cu), in which ratio I (200)/I (111) between intensity I (200) of a peak originated in (200) crystal plane of copper obtained by X-ray diffraction and intensity I (111) of a peak originated in (111) crystal plane thereof is in the range from 0.5 to 1.5.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: an anode formed of graphene oxide from an acidic pH; a cathode from a pH greater than the acidic pH of the anode; and charge collectors deposited on the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) of improved current collecting efficiency including, an anode, a cathode, an electrolytic layer between the anode and the cathode, and a current collector in an interior space defined by the anode and comprising a current collecting wire layer having a multiple-layered structure including a metal wire and a coating layer on an outer circumferential surface of the metal wire and having a higher melting point than that of the metal wire.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous metallic body at least includes a step of forming an electrically conductive coating layer on a surface of a skeleton of a three-dimensional network resin having a continuous pore by coating the surface with a coating material containing a carbon powder having a volume-average particle size of 10 ?m or less and at least one fine powder having a volume-average particle size of 10 ?m or less and selected from the group consisting of metal fine powders and metal oxide fine powders; a step of forming at least one metal plating layer; and a step of performing a heat treatment to remove the three-dimensional network resin and to cause reduction and thermal diffusion in the at least one metal or metal oxide fine powder and the at least one metal plating layer.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact element for an electrically conductive connection between an anode and an interconnector of a high-temperature fuel cell. It is the object of the invention to achieve a more reliable electrically conductive connection with long-term stability between an anode and the associated interconnector of a high-temperature fuel cell. The contact element in accordance with the invention is arranged between an anode and an interconnector of a high-temperature fuel cell. It is formed with two areal electrically conductive part elements. In this respect, one respective part element is in touching contact with the anode and the other part element is in touching contact with the respective interconnector. Openings are formed in the part elements and the part elements are formed from materials having mutually different coefficients of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods for testing a fuel cell interconnect including the steps of providing a fuel cell interconnect and performing a non-destructive test on the fuel cell interconnect comprising at least one of detecting a magnetic response of the interconnect, calculating a volume by optically illuminating the interconnect, detecting an acoustic response of the interconnect, and detecting a thermal response of the interconnect.

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.

Abstract: A method of depositing a thin gold coating on bipolar plate substrates for use in fuel cells includes depositing a gold coating onto at least one surface of the bipolar plate substrate followed by annealing the gold coating at a temperature between about 200° C. to 500° C. The annealed gold coating has a reduced porosity in comparison with a coating which has not been annealed, and provides improved corrosion resistance to the underlying metal comprising the bipolar plate.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell element having an active core interposed between a first and second conducting plate, wherein at least the first conducting plate is made from an alloy having, in percentages by weight, 24.0 to 27.0% nickel; 13.5 to 16.0% chromium; 1.90 to 2.35% titanium; 1.0 to 1.5% molybdenum; 0.10 to 0.50% vanadium; at most 0.08% carbon; at most 2.0% manganese; at most 1.0% silicon; at most 0.35% aluminium; at most 0.03% sulphur; and at most 0.01% boron, the balance consisting of iron and impurities.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method for making a ferritic stainless steel article having an oxidation resistant surface includes providing a ferritic stainless steel comprising aluminum, at least one rare earth metal and 16 to less than 30 weight percent chromium, wherein the total weight of rare earth metals is greater than 0.02 weight percent. At least one surface of the ferritic stainless steel is modified so that, when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at high temperature, the modified surface develops an electrically conductive, aluminum-rich, oxidation resistant oxide scale comprising chromium and iron and a having a hematite structure differing from Fe2O3, alpha Cr2O3 and alpha Al2O3. The modified surface may be provided, for example, by electrochemically modifying the surface, such as by electropolishing the surface.

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.

Abstract: A surface modification to prevent oxide scale spallation is disclosed. The surface modification includes a ferritic stainless steel substrate having a modified surface. A cross-section of the modified surface exhibits a periodic morphology. The periodic morphology does not exceed a critical buckling length, which is equivalent to the length of a wave attribute observed in the cross section periodic morphology. The modified surface can be created using at least one of the following processes: shot peening, surface blasting and surface grinding. A coating can be applied to the modified surface.

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.

Abstract: High power density generators are formed with a flexible multi-layered structure. The structure includes a fuel layer with a separate fuel cell stack adjacent to each side of the fuel layer. The structure can be flexible and formed into a variety of shapes.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a carbide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Suitable carbides include, but are not limited to, chromium carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, niobium carbide and zirconium carbide. The carbide coating is then polished or textured by a suitable process, such as laser or chemical etching, to provide a surface morphology that makes the coating more hydrophilic, and further reduces the contact resistance on its surface.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stainless steel separator for a fuel cell and method of manufacture. The stainless steel separator includes a stainless steel sheet, a first coating layer comprising metal/metal nitride films (M/MNx) (0.5?x?1) on a surface of the stainless steel sheet, and a second coating layer comprising a metal oxynitride film (MOyNz) (0.05?y?2, 0.25?z?1.0).

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.

Abstract: To provide a porous current collector that can be produced at a low cost, has high heat resistance and high oxidation resistance, has a required mechanical strength, and, in the case of being applied to a fuel cell operated at a high temperature, can exhibit high durability. A porous current collector 1,112a is used in a fuel cell 100 including a solid electrolyte layer 101, a first electrode layer 102 disposed on a side of the solid electrolyte layer 101, and a second electrode layer 105 disposed on another side of the solid electrolyte layer 101, the porous current collector 1,112a including continuous pores 1b and a Ni—Sn alloy layer 10a covering at least a surface of the porous current collector 1,112a.

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.

Abstract: A brazing alloy for bonding in air, in which the melting point is reduced so as to perform brazing at a low temperature without using flux even in air, is provided. In addition, a bonded article and a current collecting material, each of which is bonded with the brazing alloy and has preferable gas sealing characteristics and superior bonding strength, are provided. The brazing alloy for bonding in air includes Ag and B as essential components. The amount of Ag is not less than 50 vol. % and less than 92 vol. %, and the amount of B is greater than 8 vol. % and not more than 50% vol. %. The amounts of Ag and B are adjusted so that the total of the amounts of Ag and B is 100% including inevitable impurities.

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.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of production of a separator for a solid polymer type fuel cell characterized by shaping a substrate comprised of stainless steel, titanium, or a titanium alloy and then spraying the substrate surface with superhard core particles comprised of conductive compound particles of an average particle size of 0.01 to 20 ?m mixed with a coating material and coated on their surfaces under conditions of a spray pressure of 0.4 MPa or less and a spray amount per cm2 of the substrate of 10 to 100 g in blast treatment. The ratio of the conductive compound to the mass of the core particles is 0.5 to 15 mass %.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A bipolar plate (30) for use in a fuel cell stack (10) includes one or more first metal layers (40a) having a tendency to grow an electrically passive layer in the presence of a fuel cell reactant gas and one or more second metal layers (40b) directly adjacent the one or more first metal layers (40a). The second metal layer has a tendency to resist growing any oxide layer in the presence of the fuel cell reactant gas to maintain a threshold electrical conductivity. The second metal layer also has a section for contacting an electrode (12, 14) and providing an electrically conductive path between the electrode (12, 14) and the first metal layer.

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.

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.

Abstract: Solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack assembly designs are consistently investigated to develop an assembly that provides optimal performance, and durability, within desired cost parameters. A new design includes a repeat unit having a SOFC cassette and being characterized by a three-component construct. The three components include an oxidation-resistant, metal window frame hermetically joined to an electrolyte layer of a multi-layer, anode-supported ceramic cell and a pre-cassette including a separator plate having a plurality of vias that provide electrical contact between an anode-side collector within the pre-cassette and a cathode-side current collector of an adjacent cell. The third component is a cathode-side seal, which includes a standoff that supports a cathode channel spacing between each of the cassettes in a stack. Cassettes are formed by joining the pre-cassette and the window frame.

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.