| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080248370 | REMOVAL OF NON-CONDUCTIVE HYDROPHILIC COATINGS FROM LANDS OF FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - A bipolar plate for a fuel cell is provided including a plate having an active surface with a plurality of flow channels formed therein. The plurality of flow channels have a hydrophilic coating deposited thereon and define a plurality of lands disposed therebetween. The plurality of lands is substantially free of the hydrophilic coating. Furthermore, a thickness of the hydrophilic coating is substantially constant along a length of the active surface and an edge of the hydrophilic coating adjacent the plurality of lands is substantially continuous. A method for preparing the bipolar plate is also provided. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20100124675 | FUEL CELL PLATES PRODUCED FROM LAYERED MATERIALS - 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. | 05-20-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100285396 | NON-NOBLE METAL INEXPENSIVE CONDUCTIVE COATINGS FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES - One embodiment of the invention includes a process including providing an electrically conductive fuel cell component having a first face, and depositing a graphitic/conductive carbon film on the first face of the electrically conductive fuel cell component comprising sputtering a graphite target using a closed field unbalanced magnetron field. | 11-11-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20110008714 | LOW-COST MANGANESE-STABILIZED AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL ALLOYS, BIPOLAR PLATES COMPRISING THE ALLOYS, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEMS COMPRISING THE BIPOLAR PLATES - Corrosion resistant, manganese-stabilized austenitic stainless steels with a low nickel content are used in bipolar plates, methods for fabricating the bipolar plates, and polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells comprising the bipolar plates. The bipolar plates are formed from high-manganese austenitic stainless steels comprising, in weight percents, 4.0 to 35 manganese, 0.5 to 1.5 nickel, 17 to 20 chromium, 0.2 to 0.5 nitrogen, up to 0.075 carbon, 0.5 to 1.0 silicon, up to 0.1 aluminum, 0 to 0.005 sulfur, and balance iron and incidental impurities. The steels exhibit suitable corrosion resistance, electrical contact resistance, and mechanical properties for high-corrosion applications such as use in bipolar plate materials for PEM fuel cells. The bipolar plates may comprise a solid plate of the steel, optionally coated with a highly electrically conductive material. Alternatively, the bipolar plates may comprise an economical substrate coated with the steel, optionally further coated with a highly electrically conductive material. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110104589 | Hybrid Electrically Conductive Fluid Distribution Separator Plate Assembly for Fuel Cells - In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly, a method of making, and a system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly. In at least one embodiment, the electrically conductive fluid distribution separator plate assembly comprises a metallic cathode plate having opposed surfaces and a first contact resistance, a polymeric composite anode plate adjacent to the metallic cathode plate, and a low contact resistance coating located on at least one of the surfaces of the plates, with the coating having a second contact resistance, less than the first contact resistance. | 05-05-2011 |
