Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080206615 | GAS DIFFUSION LAYER WITH CONTROLLED DIFFUSIVITY OVER ACTIVE AREA - A diffusion medium for use in a PEM fuel cell comprising a thin perforated layer having variable size and frequency of perforation patterns incorporated into a microporous layer on a first side of a porous substrate layer, wherein the diffusion medium is adapted to improve water management and performance of the fuel cell. | 08-28-2008 |
20090104476 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH ASYMMETRIC DIFFUSION MEDIA ON ANODE AND CATHODE - The present invention provides a fuel cell having a first diffusion and a second diffusion media having a membrane electrode assembly disposed therebetween. The first diffusion media includes a first set of material characteristics and the second diffusion media includes a second set of material characteristics. The first set of material characteristics has at least one material characteristic substantially different from those same material characteristics of the second set of material characteristics. The difference in material characteristics provides for enhancing water management across a major face of the second diffusion media. | 04-23-2009 |
20090148726 | Gas Diffusion Layer for Fuel Cell - A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell is described. The gas diffusion layer includes a carbon fiber mat having a substantially open structure. Bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp is added into a microporous layer ink. Alternatively, the bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp can first be disposed on the carbon fiber mat, with the microporous layer ink added thereafter. When the microporous layer ink/bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp mixture is coated on the carbon fiber mat, the ink penetrates through the open substrate, and is locked into place by the bloomed acrylic pulp fibers. This allows for a buildup of microporous layer ink on top of the substrate for added thickness when the bloomed fibrillated acrylic pulp sits on top of the mat. | 06-11-2009 |
20100009240 | STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT OF MEMBRANE ELECTRODES - A catalyst ink composition for a fuel cell electrode is provided. The catalyst ink composition includes a plurality of electrically conductive support particles; a catalyst formed from a finely divided precious metal, the catalyst supported by the conductive support particles; an ionomer; at least one solvent; and a reinforcing material configured to bridge and distribute stresses across the electrically conductive support particles of the ink composition upon a drying thereof. An electrode for a fuel cell and a method of fabricating the electrode with the catalyst ink composition are also provided. | 01-14-2010 |
20100028744 | GAS DIFFUSION LAYER WITH LOWER GAS DIFFUSIVITY - A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells comprises a fiber and non-fiber material in a ratio such that the water vapor diffusion transport resistance is greater than 0.8 s/cm measured at 80 C and 150 kPa absolute gas pressure when the gas diffusion layer has a thickness less than or equal to 300 microns. Another gas diffusion layer comprises a fiber and non-fiber material in a ratio such that the water vapor diffusion transport resistance is lower than 0.4 s/cm measured at 80 C and 150 kPa absolute gas pressure when the gas diffusion layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 100 microns. Fuel cells incorporating the gas diffusion layers are also provided. | 02-04-2010 |
20100028750 | GAS DIFFUSION LAYER WITH LOWER GAS DIFFUSIVITY - A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells includes a gas permeable diffusion structure and a microporous layer. The microporous layer incorporates a plurality of particles of anisotropic shape, simultaneously reducing the porosity of the microporous layer and increasing the tortuosity for gas transporting through the microporous layer. The anisotropic particles in the microporous layer are present in a first amount such that the gas diffusion layer has an increased gas transport resistance. | 02-04-2010 |
20100129534 | FUEL CELLS WITH HYDROPHOBIC DIFFUSION MEDIUM - Diffusion media for use in PEM fuel cells are provided with silicone coatings. The media are made of a porous electroconductive substrate, a first hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer coating adhered to the substrate, and a second coating comprising a hydrophobic silicone polymer adhered to the substrate. The substrate is preferably a carbon fiber paper, the hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer is PTFE or similar polymer, and the silicone is moisture curable. | 05-27-2010 |
20100291463 | ELECTRODE CONTAINING NANOSTRUCTURED THIN CATALYTIC LAYERS AND METHOD OF MAKING - A method of transferring a nanostructured thin catalytic layer from its carrying substrate to a porous transfer substrate and further processing and restructuring the nanostructured thin catalytic layer on the porous transfer substrate is provided. The method includes transferring the nanostructured catalytic layer from its carrying substrate to a transfer substrate. The nanostructured catalytic layer then is processed and reconstructed, including removing the residual materials and adding additional components or layers to the nanostructured catalytic layer, on the transfer substrate. Methods of fabricating catalyst coated membranes with the reconstructed electrode including the nanostructured thin catalytic layer, reconstructed electrode decals, and catalyst coated proton exchange membranes are also described. | 11-18-2010 |
20110039192 | STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT OF MEMBRANE ELECTRODES - A catalyst ink composition for a fuel cell electrode is provided. The catalyst ink composition includes a plurality of electrically conductive support particles; a catalyst formed from a finely divided precious metal, the catalyst supported by the conductive support particles; an ionomer; at least one solvent; and a reinforcing material configured to bridge and distribute stresses across the electrically conductive support particles of the ink composition upon a drying thereof. An electrode for a fuel cell and a method of fabricating the electrode with the catalyst ink composition are also provided. | 02-17-2011 |
20120178010 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH ASYMMETRIC DIFFUSION MEDIA ON ANODE AND CATHODE - The present invention provides a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly disposed between a first diffusion media that has a first set of material characteristics and a second diffusion media that has a second set of material characteristics. The membrane electrode assembly and the first and second diffusion media provide a cell assembly. The cell assembly provides a water transport mechanism that selectively controls water transportation across a thickness of the first and second diffusion media and through the membrane electrode assembly. The first set of material characteristics has at least one material characteristic substantially different from at least one material characteristic of the second set of material characteristics. The selection of the first and second set of material characteristics defines the water transport mechanism for managing hydration of the first and the second diffusion media. | 07-12-2012 |