| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080274390 | Anode electrodes for direct oxidation fuel cells and systems operating with concentrated liquid fuel - An anode electrode for use in a fuel cell comprises a stacked structure including, in sequence: a catalyst layer, a hydrophobic, microporous layer (“MPL”), a porous gas diffusion layer (“GDL”), and an anode plate with at least one recessed fuel supply-fuel/gas exhaust channel formed in a surface thereof facing the GDL, wherein the stacked structure further comprises at least one hydrophobic region aligned with the at least one recessed channel. The electrode is useful in direct oxidation fuel cells and systems, such as direct methanol fuel cells operating with highly concentrated liquid fuel. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090011289 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEMS WITH REGULATED FUEL CONCENTRATION AND OXIDANT FLOW - A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) system, comprises at least one fuel cell assembly including a cathode and an anode with an electrolyte positioned therebetween; a source of liquid fuel in fluid communication with an inlet of the anode; an oxidant supply in fluid communication with an inlet of the cathode; a liquid/gas (L/G) separator in fluid communication with outlets of the anode and cathode for: (1) receiving unreacted fuel and liquid and gaseous products, and (2) supplying a solution of fuel and liquid product to the anode inlet; and a control system for measuring the amount of liquid product and controlling oxidant stoichiometry of the system operation in response to the measured amount of liquid product. Alternatively, the control system controls the concentration of the liquid fuel in the solution supplied to the anode inlet, based upon the system operating temperature or output power. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090023046 | Porous Transport Structures for Direct-Oxidation Fuel Cell System Operating with Concentrated Fuel - One embodiment provides a direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising, in the following order, a catalyst layer; an optional microporous layer; an optional backing layer; and an electrically conductive porous transport structure, comprising, in the following order, a porous body, and an impermeable layer in contact with the porous body. Another embodiment provides a direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising an electrically conductive porous transport structure, comprising a porous body, and an impermeable layer in contact with the porous body; wherein the direct oxidation fuel cell achieves a net water transport coefficient, α, of less than about 0.6 at an operation temperature ranging from about 60 to about 80° C. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090042078 | Surface-treated hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte membranes for direct oxidation fuel cells - A proton (H | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090042091 | Supported catalyst layers for direct oxidation fuel cells - A method of fabricating a supported catalyst layer for use in a fuel cell electrode, comprises sequential steps of: combining a fluid ink including a supported catalyst comprising at least one precious metal or alloy supported on particles of a support material, and a solution of at least one ionomeric polymer material, with at least one pore-forming material; forming a layer of the combined ink on a surface of a sheet of support material; hot pressing the layer; and treating the hot-pressed layer to remove pore-forming material to form a supported catalyst layer. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090208783 | Low porosity anode diffusion media for fuel cells - A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) having a concentrated liquid fuel and an anode electrode configured to generate power. The anode electrode includes a diffusion medium (DM) with or without a microporous layer, such that a decrease in the porosity of the DM reduces fuel crossover through the membrane and achieves high power density of the DOFC fed directly with concentrated fuel. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100068592 | Electrodes for use in hydrocarbon-based membrane electrode assemblies of direct oxidation fuel cells - Electrodes for use in direct oxidation fuel cells (DOFCs) comprise, in sequence: an electrically conductive gas diffusion layer; a catalyst layer; and a proton-conducting layer. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) comprise cathode and anode electrodes of such type sandwiching a proton conductive polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), with the proton-conducting layer of the electrodes in contact with opposite surfaces of the PEM. Also disclosed is a method for fabricating the MEAs. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100183951 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELLS WITH IMPROVED CATHODE GAS DIFFUSION MEDIA FOR LOW AIR STOICHIOMETRY OPERATION - A cathode for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) comprises a gas diffusion medium (GDM) including a backing layer and a microporous layer comprising a fluoropolymer and an electrically conductive material, wherein loading of the fluoropolymer in the microporous layer is in the range from about 10 to about 60 wt. %. In use, a concentrated solution of a liquid fuel is supplied to an anode and an oxidant to the cathode of the fuel cell, and the fuel cell may be operated at a low oxidant stoichiometry not greater than about 2.5. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100221625 | LOW-POROSITY ANODE DIFFUSION MEDIA FOR HIGH CONCENTRATION DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS AND METHOD OF MAKING - A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) having a liquid fuel and an anode electrode configured to generate power. The anode electrode includes a gas diffusion layer (GDL) and a microporous layer, such that a decrease in the porosity of the GDL achieves an increase in the power density of the DOFC. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20110008691 | DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLABLE DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEMS & METHODS THEREFOR - A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) system comprises at least one fuel cell assembly including a cathode and an anode with an electrolyte positioned therebetween; a source of liquid fuel in fluid communication with an anode inlet; an oxidant supply in fluid communication with a cathode inlet; a liquid/gas (L/G) separator in fluid communication with anode and cathode outlets for: (1) receiving unreacted fuel and liquid and gaseous products of electrochemical reactions at the cathode and anode, and (2) supplying the unreacted fuel and liquid product to the inlet of said anode; and a control and/or regulation system for determining a fuel efficiency value of the DOFC system during operation and determining and regulating and/or controlling oxidant stoichiometry of the DOFC system at an appropriate value in response to the determined fuel efficiency value. | 01-13-2011 |
