| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080248368 | MICROTEXTURED FUEL CELL ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT - Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20090011310 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH MICROGROOVES FOR IMPROVED WATER TRANSPORT - One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090053572 | PEM FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED WATER MANAGEMENT - A product including a polymer electrolyte membrane, an electrode over the membrane, a gas diffusion media layer over the electrode, and a hydrophilic layer over the gas diffusion media layer. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090087716 | NANOTUBE ASSEMBLY, BIPOLAR PLATE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME - One embodiment of the invention includes an assembly of metal oxide comprising valve metal oxide nanotubes. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090092874 | STABLE HYDROPHILIC COATING FOR FUEL CELL COLLECTOR PLATES - One embodiment of the invention includes a product including a fuel cell component including a coating thereon, the coating comprising nanoparticles comprising titanium oxide or titanium containing compounds derived therefrom. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090117443 | Bipolar Plate Hydrophilic Treatment for Stable Fuel Cell Stack Operation at Low Power - A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090176139 | PASSIVATED METALLIC BIPOLAR PLATES AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A method including providing a substrate; treating the substrate to form a passive layer, wherein the passive layer has a thickness of at least 3 nm; and
| 07-09-2009 |
| 20090176142 | CORROSION RESISTANT METAL COMPOSITE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE SAME - A metal composite for use in electrochemical devices is disclosed. The metal composite comprises a stainless steel interior component and a deposited nitrided metal exterior layer, wherein the nitrided exterior layer has lower electric contact resistance and greater corrosion resistance than the stainless steel interior component. A bipolar plate made of such metal composite and methods of producing the metal composite and bipolar plate are also disclosed. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090191351 | FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE WITH VARIABLE SURFACE PROPERTIES - One embodiment of the invention includes a first fuel cell component comprising a first face, a first hydrophilic coating overlying at least a first portion of the first face, and a second less hydrophilic coating overlying at least a second portion of the first face. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090214927 | LOW COST FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME - Fuel cell bipolar plates are made by depositing a pinhole free corrosion resistant and/or a conductive layer on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. In one embodiment, a conductive layer is deposited on an anodized metal plate using atomic layer deposition method. In another embodiment, at least one corrosion resistant metal oxide layer and at least one conductive layer are deposited on a metal plate individually using atomic layer deposition method. In yet another embodiment, a corrosion resistant and conductive metal oxynitride layer is deposited on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090238989 | METHOD OF COATING FUEL CELL COMPONENTS FOR WATER REMOVAL - A method for coating a fuel cell component is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a fuel cell component, and forming a coating on a surface of the fuel cell component with a plasma jet. The step of forming the coating may include applying a coating precursor to a surface of the fuel cell component and then reacting the coating precursor with the plasma jet to form the coating. The step of forming the coating may also include growing the coating on the surface of the fuel cell component by delivering the plasma jet containing the coating precursor. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090286118 | BIPOLAR PLATE COATING ARCHITECTURE FOR FUEL CELLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - One exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a method including providing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell having a reactant gas flow field defined therein by a plurality of lands and at least one channel, and depositing a low contact resistant material selectively over portions of the lands leaving portions of the lands uncovered by the low contact resistant material. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090286133 | BIPOLAR PLATE WITH INLET AND OUTLET WATER MANAGEMENT FEATURES - A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a fuel cell plate having hydrophobic portions adjacent an inlet and an outlet formed therein, and a hydrophilic portion formed in the flow channels of the fuel cell plate adjacent the hydrophobic portions, wherein the hydrophilic portion and the hydrophobic portion facilitate the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plate. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090325025 | HYDROPHILIC AND CORROSION RESISTANT FUEL CELL COMPONENTS - 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. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100028743 | AMORPHOUS CARBON COATINGS FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - 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. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100028749 | GRAPHENE COATED SS BIPOLAR PLATES - A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a graphene-containing layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The graphene-containing 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. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100032306 | ELECTROCHEMICAL DEPOSITION OF CONDUCTIVE COATINGS ON FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - One exemplary embodiment includes a method of selectively electroplating an electrically conductive coating on selected portions of lands of a bipolar plate leaving portions of the lands uncoated by the electrically conductive coating. Thus, allowing for reducing cost of bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells considerably. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100035091 | METHOD OF MAKING A STABLE HYDROPHILIC COATING/SURFACE ON CARBON-BASED MATERIALS FOR FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS - 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. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100047647 | METHOD TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF SHUNT CURRENTS THROUGH AQUEOUS BASED COOLANTS ON PEM FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - A fuel cell includes a first valve metal flow field plate. The first valve metal flow field plate has a first cooling channel adapted to receive an aqueous coolant and to contact the aqueous coolant at a position that inhibits the formation of shunt currents when the fuel cell is incorporated in a fuel cell stack. A field assembly includes a first metal flow field plate having a first cooling channel adapted to receive an aqueous coolant is also provided. A valve metal plate is disposed over the first metal flow field plate in the flow field assembly. Fuel cell stacks using the valve metal-containing flow field plates are also provided. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100151135 | METHOD OF COATING A SUBSTRATE WITH NANOPARTICLES INCLUDING A METAL OXIDE - One exemplary embodiment may include a method comprising: depositing a solution comprising an organometallic compound on a substrate, drying the solution to provide a film of the organometallic compound and at least partially oxidizing an organic component of the organometallic compound to provide nanoparticles including metal oxides on the substrate which would have multiuse industrial applications. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100233558 | Method to Reduce/Eliminate Shunt Current Corrosion of Wet End Plate in PEM Fuel Cells - A fuel cell stack includes a first fuel cell assembly and a last fuel cell assembly. The first fuel cell assembly includes a first end plate assembly, which has a first end plate cooling channel adapted to receive a coolant. The last fuel cell assembly includes a last end plate assembly that has a last end plate cooling channel. A first electrical potential exists between the first end plate and the last end plate. The fuel cell stack also includes a connecting cooling channel is in fluid communication with the first end plate cooling channel and the last end plate cooling channel. A coolant is contained within the connecting coolant channel, the first end plate cooling channel, and a last end plate cooling channel. The fuel cell stack further includes a coolant electrode positioned in the coolant channel, which contacts the coolant. A voltage source is in communication with the first end plate and the coolant electrode such that a second electrical potential between the coolant electrode and the first end plate is at a sufficient voltage to impede corrosion of the first end plate. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100247749 | METHOD OF COATING A SUBSTRATE WITH NANOPARTICLES INCLUDING A METAL OXIDE - One exemplary embodiment may include a method comprising: depositing a solution comprising an organometallic compound on a substrate, drying the solution to provide a film of the organometallic compound and at least partially oxidizing an organic component of the organometallic compound to provide nanoparticles including metal oxides on the substrate which would have multiuse industrial applications. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100291464 | LOW CONTACT RESISTANCE COATED STAINLESS STEEL BIPOLAR PLATES FOR FUEL CELLS - A bipolar plate to reduce electrical contact resistance between the plate and a diffusion layer used in a fuel cell. The opposing surfaces of the plate define flow channels with upstanding lands interspersed between them. The lands of the plate form an electrically-conductive contact with a diffusion layer in the fuel cell. At least a portion of the electrically-conductive contact is made up of a nickel-based alloy that reduces the contact resistance between the plate and the diffusion layer as a way to achieve improved electric current density. In one form, the alloy can be used as the primary material in the plate, while in another, it can be used as a coating deposited onto a conventional stainless steel plate. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100304267 | METHOD TO ENHANCE THE DURABILITY OF CONDUCTIVE CARBON COATING OF PEM FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - A fuel cell component includes an electrode support material made with nanofiber materials of Titania and ionomer. A bipolar plate stainless steel substrate and a carbon-containing layer doped with a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, ruthenium, gold, palladium, and combinations thereof. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100316936 | ELECTRICAL CONTACT ELEMENT FOR A FUEL CELL HAVING AN ULTRA-THIN CONDUCTIVE LAYER COATING - An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for use in a fuel cell includes a conductive metal substrate and a layer of conductive non-metallic porous media. The conductive non-metallic porous media has an electrically conductive material deposited along a surface in one or more metallized regions and having an average thickness less than about 40 nm. The metallized regions improve electrical conductance at contact regions between the metal substrate and the fluid distribution media. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100323276 | SURFACE TREATED CARBON COATINGS FOR FLOW FIELD PLATES - A flow field plate having a low resistance coating for fuel cell applications is described. In one embodiment, the flow field plate includes a metal plate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining a plurality of channels for directing flow of a first gaseous composition; and an activated carbon coating disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the plate, the activated carbon coating having a surface resistance of less than about 20 mΩ·cm | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110070528 | Carbon Based Bipolar Plate Coatings for Effective Water Management - 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. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070529 | Conductive and Hydrophilic Bipolar Plate Coatings and Method of Making the Same - 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 titanium oxide layer to form a titanium oxide/carbon bilayer. The titanium 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. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110143262 | GAS DIFFUSION MEDIA MADE FROM ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COATINGS ON NON-CONDUCTIVE FIBERS - A fuel cell includes a first electrically conductive plate and a first gas diffusion layer. The first gas diffusion layer is disposed over the first electrically conductive plate. Characteristically, the first gas diffusion layer comprises a first fibrous sheet having fibers coated with an electrically conductive layer. A first catalyst layer is disposed over the first gas diffusion layer and an ion conducting membrane is disposed over the first catalyst layer. The fuel cell also includes a second catalyst layer disposed over the ion conducting membrane with a second gas diffusion layer disposed over the second catalyst layer. A second electrically conductive plate is disposed over the second gas diffusion layer. Methods for forming the gas diffusion layers and the fuel cell are also provided. | 06-16-2011 |
