Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090162733 | FLOW FIELD PLATE FOR A FUEL CELL WITH FEATURES TO ENHANCE REACTANT GAS DISTRIBUTION - A flow field plate for a fuel cell includes features in the gas input area that enhance gas distribution to the flow field channels. The input area of the flow field plate directs gases from an input manifold to the flow field channels. The input area includes one or more input channels which are defined by input channel walls. One or more features are included within the input area to enhance the distribution of the gas to the flow field channels. The gas distribution enhancement features may provide support for a sealing element to reduce blockage of the channels and/or may provide a path for fluid communication between adjacent input channels. | 06-25-2009 |
20090162734 | MANUFACTURING OF FUEL CELL MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING PHOTOCURABLE CATIONIC CROSSLINKABLE RESIN GASKET - A first transport system moves a web comprising a subgasketed CCM layer and an application system applies a crosslinkable resin to at least a subgasketed portion of the subgasketed CCM layer. The crosslinkable resin preferably comprises a photocurable cationic crosslinkable resin. A first curing apparatus subjects an exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin to a photo curing process to initiate curing of the crosslinkable resin. A second transport system moves a GDL into adhering contact with a partially cured exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin of the CCM layer so as to form an MEA layer. A second curing apparatus subjects the GDL, partially cured crosslinkable resin, and CCM layer structure to a thermal curing process to substantially complete curing of the crosslinkable resin. A converting system is configured to receive the MEA layer and produce a plurality of discrete MEAs from the MEA layer. | 06-25-2009 |
20090208809 | POLYMER ELECTROLYTES INCLUDING HETEROPOLYACIDS - This disclosure provides polymer electrolytes, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM's) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA's) such as may be useful in fuel cells which contain or comprise polyoxometalates (POM's) or heteropolyacids (HPA's). In some embodiments the polyoxometalate, it's counterions or both may comprise Mn and/or Ce. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte is fluorinated. In some embodiments the polymer electrolyte comprises a second acidic functional group other than a polyoxometalate. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides methods of making polymer electrolytes including methods which comprising a step of copolymerizing monomers comprising a covalently bound polyoxometalates and methods which comprise a step of covalently attaching a polyoxometalate to the polymer. | 08-20-2009 |
20100234521 | SIDE CHAIN FLUOROCHEMICALS WITH CRYSTALLIZABLE SPACER GROUPS - A fluorochemical derived from monomers with a side chain, wherein the side chain includes a perfluoroalkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms and a hydrocarbon spacer group attached to the perfluoroalkyl group, wherein the spacer group has 15-50 carbon atoms. The perfluoroalkyl group is non-crystallizable at room temperature and the spacer group is crystallizable at room temperature. | 09-16-2010 |
20110045384 | POLYMER ELECTROLYTE WITH AROMATIC SULFONE CROSSLINKING - A method is provided for obtaining crosslinked polymers having pendent sulfonic acid groups by crosslinking through the sulfonic acid groups or their precursors with aromatic crosslinkers or aromatic pendent crosslinking groups to form aromatic sulfones. Such crosslinked polymers may be used to make polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM's) that may be used in electrolytic cells such as fuel cells. | 02-24-2011 |
20110151350 | FUEL CELL SUBASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING SUBGASKETED THRIFTED MEMBRANES - A fuel cell roll good subassembly is described that includes a plurality of individual electrolyte membranes. One or more first subgaskets are attached to the individual electrolyte membranes. Each of the first subgaskets has at least one aperture and the first subgaskets are arranged so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the first subgaskets. A second subgasket comprises a web having a plurality of apertures. The second subgasket web is attached to the one or more first subgaskets so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the second subgasket web. The second subgasket web may have little or no adhesive on the subgasket surface facing the electrolyte membrane. | 06-23-2011 |
20130101918 | REINFORCED ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE - An electrolyte membrane having a proton conducting polymer reinforced with a nanofiber mat made from a nanofiber comprising a fiber material selected from polymers and polymer blends; wherein the fiber material has a fiber material proton conductivity; wherein the proton conducting polymer has a proton conducting polymer conductivity; and wherein the fiber material proton conductivity is less than the proton conducting polymer conductivity, and methods of making. In some embodiments, the nanofiber further comprises a proton conducting polymer. | 04-25-2013 |
20130216932 | Manufacturing of Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assemblies Incorporating Photocurable Cationic Crosslinkable Resin Gasket - A first transport system moves a web comprising a subgasketed CCM layer and an application system applies a crosslinkable resin to at least a subgasketed portion of the subgasketed CCM layer. The crosslinkable resin preferably comprises a photocurable cationic crosslinkable resin. A first curing apparatus subjects an exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin to a photo curing process to initiate curing of the crosslinkable resin. A second transport system moves a GDL into adhering contact with a partially cured exposed surface of the crosslinkable resin of the CCM layer so as to form an MEA layer. A second curing apparatus subjects the GDL, partially cured crosslinkable resin, and CCM layer structure to a thermal curing process to substantially complete curing of the crosslinkable resin. A converting system is configured to receive the MEA layer and produce a plurality of discrete MEAs from the MEA layer. | 08-22-2013 |
20130302722 | GASKETED SUBASSEMBLY FOR USE IN FUEL CELLS INCLUDING REPLICATED STRUCTURES - The present invention is an electrochemical device subassembly that includes a membrane electrode assembly and a gasket. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane having a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a peripheral edge. The gasket is disposed adjacent the first major surface of the electrolyte membrane at the peripheral edge, and has a plurality of replicated structures that extend greater than about 250 micrometers from a surface of the gasket. | 11-14-2013 |
20140093807 | FUEL CELL SUBASSEMBLIES INCORPORATING SUBGASKETED THRIFTED MEMBRANES - A fuel cell roll good subassembly is described that includes a plurality of individual electrolyte membranes. One or more first subgaskets are attached to the individual electrolyte membranes. Each of the first subgaskets has at least one aperture and the first subgaskets are arranged so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the first subgaskets. A second subgasket comprises a web having a plurality of apertures. The second subgasket web is attached to the one or more first subgaskets so the center regions of the individual electrolyte membranes are exposed through the apertures of the second subgasket web. The second subgasket web may have little or no adhesive on the subgasket surface facing the electrolyte membrane. | 04-03-2014 |
20140134518 | MICROPOROUS PVDF FILMS - Shaped microporous articles are produced from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nucleating agents using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) processes. The shaped microporous article is oriented in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0. The shaped article may also comprise a diluent, glyceryl triacetate. The shaped microporous article may also have the micropores filled with a sufficient quantity of ion conducting electrolyte to allow the membrane to function as an ion conductive membrane. The method of making a microporous article comprises the steps of melt blending polyvinylidene fluoride, nucleating agent and glyceryl triacetate; forming a shaped article of the mixture; cooling the shaped article to cause crystallization of the polyvinylidene fluoride and phase separation of the polyvinylidene fluoride and glyceryl triacetate; and stretching the shaped article in at least one direction at a stretch ratio of at least approximately 1.1 to 1.0. | 05-15-2014 |