Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100028745 | Chemically modified catalyzed support particles for electrochemical cells - A membrane-electrode assembly in a polymer electrolyte/proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes the electrodes (anode and cathode), with a thin layer of catalyzed conductive support particles bonded to either side of the membrane. Where the polymer membrane comprises pendant chains of fluorinated carbon atoms with mobile proton containing terminal groups, proton conductivity with the catalyst particles is improved by chemically attaching like pendant chains to carbon atoms at surfaces of carbon particles. In certain implementations, an amino aryl perfluorinated sulfonic acid precursor is prepared. This precursor is converted to an aryl diazonium cation in the presence of carbon particles. The diazonium cation is reduced to the aryl radical which reacts with carbon atoms of the carbon substrate. | 02-04-2010 |
20100055573 | THIN FILM BURIED ANODE BATTERY - A reverse configuration, lithium thin film battery ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100159294 | COMBINED SUBGASKET AND MEMBRANE SUPPORT - A combined subgasket and membrane support for a fuel cell is provided. The combined subgasket and membrane support includes a substantially fluid impermeable feed region circumscribing a porous membrane support region. The membrane support region is integrally formed with the feed region. At least one of the membrane support region and the feed region is at least partially formed by a radiation-cured structure. A method for fabricating the subgasket and membrane support for the fuel cell is also provided. | 06-24-2010 |
20100159303 | FUEL CELL FABRICATION USING PHOTOPOLYMER BASED PROCESSES - A fuel cell component is provided, including a substrate disposed adjacent at least one radiation-cured flow field layer. The flow field layer is one of disposed between the substrate and a diffusion medium layer, and disposed on the diffusion medium layer opposite the substrate. The flow field layer has at least one of a plurality of reactant flow channels and a plurality of coolant channels for the fuel cell. The fuel cell component may be assembled as part of a repeating unit for a fuel cell stack. A method for fabricating the fuel cell component and the associated repeating unit for the fuel cell is also provided. | 06-24-2010 |
20100184595 | TRANSITION METAL COMPLEX ANION-BASED HYDROGEN STORAGE MATERIAL SYSTEM - An exemplary embodiment and associated method of use discloses a hydrogen storage system that liberates hydrogen and includes a combination of at least one complex hydride containing a cation and a complex hydride anion based on boron, aluminum or nitrogen, together with an approximately stoichiometric or chemically equivalent amount of at least one other complex hydride containing a cation and a complex hydride anion based on a transition metal. | 07-22-2010 |
20100252444 | Apparatus and method for synthesis of alane - One embodiment of the invention includes an electrochemical cell and an externally applied electrical potential used to drive a direct synthesis reaction to produce alane. | 10-07-2010 |
20100273094 | METHOD OF COATING A SURFACE OF A FUEL CELL PLATE - A method of coating a surface of a fuel cell plate is disclosed herein, and involves forming a sol gel mixture by mixing a weak acid and a composition including at least two metal oxide precursors. One of the metal oxide precursors is configured to be hydrolyzed by the weak acid to form a mixed metal oxide framework with an other of the metal oxide precursors having at least one organic functional group that is not hydrolyzed by the weak acid. The mixture is applied to the surface, and is condensed by exposure to air at least one predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time. The sol gel mixture is immersed in water at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to form a porous, hydrophilic, and conductive film on the surface. | 10-28-2010 |
20100273095 | METHOD OF COATING A SURFACE OF A FUEL CELL PLATE - A method of coating a surface of a fuel cell plate is disclosed herein. The method involves forming a sol gel mixture including a metal oxide modified with at least one functional group, where the at least one functional group is configured to improve adhesion; and adding carbon modified with a hydrophilic functional group to the mixture, thereby forming a suspension. The suspension is applied to the surface of the fuel cell plate, and is activated to form a porous, hydrophilic, and conductive film on the surface of the fuel cell plate. | 10-28-2010 |
20100285372 | MultiLayer Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Thin Film Batteries - A lithium metal thin-film battery composite structure is provided that includes a combination of a thin, stable, solid electrolyte layer [ | 11-11-2010 |
20100291416 | STATE OF CHARGE MARKER FOR BATTERY SYSTEMS - An exemplary embodiment includes a battery cell electrode including a first material having a first potential versus state of charge (SOC) relationship; a second material having a second potential versus state of charge (SOC) relationship; wherein the second material becomes active to transfer ions at a selected SOC level to result in a readily observable change in measured potential from the first to the second potential versus SOC relationship. | 11-18-2010 |
20110014548 | CONDUCTIVE AND HYDROPHILIC SURFACE MODIFICATION OF FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATE - A fuel cell comprises a bipolar plate having a conductive and hydrophilic surface layer disposed on at least a portion of its exterior area. The surface layer comprises a conductive carbon material having a hydrophilic organic group covalently attached to its surface. A process of producing a bipolar plate and a fuel cell is also disclosed. | 01-20-2011 |
20110229823 | FUEL CELL FABRICATION USING PHOTOPOLYMER BASED PROCESSES - A method for fabricating a fuel cell component includes the steps of providing a mask having a plurality of radiation transparent apertures, a radiation-sensitive material having a sensitivity to the plurality of radiation beams, and a flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is disposed on the flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is then exposed to the plurality of radiation beams through the radiation transparent apertures in the mask to form a diffusion medium layer with a micro-truss structure. | 09-22-2011 |
20120100403 | ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING A STATE OF CHARGE THEREOF - A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte operatively disposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The negative electrode contains a composite material including graphitic carbon and a disordered carbon. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101674 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY DEVICE IN REAL TIME - A method of determining and predicting a state of a rechargeable battery device in real time involves measuring a current and a voltage of the rechargeable battery in real time, inputting the measured current and voltage into an algorithm, and applying the algorithm to determine the state of the rechargeable battery. The algorithm includes a first mathematical model based on a direct solution of at least one differential equation characterizing an equivalent RC circuit of the battery as a function of time. The first model generates a plurality of parameters that are usable to determine the state of the battery. The algorithm further includes a second mathematical model configured to regress the parameters over time, and a third mathematical model configured to estimate the state of the battery. | 04-26-2012 |
20120105068 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING BATTERY STATE OF HEALTH - A method for monitoring a lithium-ion battery cell includes monitoring a battery cell voltage and a corresponding state of charge of the battery cell during an electric power event which may include either an electric power charge event or an electric power discharge event. A measured potential-derivative is determined by differentiating the battery cell voltage in relation to the corresponding state of charge of the battery during the electric power event. The measured potential-derivative is compared with a preferred anode potential-derivative of an anode charge curve (for electric power discharge events) or an anode discharge curve (for electric power charge events), and with a preferred cathode potential-derivative of a cathode charge curve (for electric power charge events) or a cathode discharge charge curve (for electric power discharge events). A first state of health parameter of the battery cell corresponding to the comparison of the measured potential-derivative with the preferred anode potential-derivative of the anode curve is determined. And, a second state of health parameter of the battery cell corresponding to the comparison of the measured potential-derivative with the preferred cathode potential-derivative of the cathode curve is determined. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105069 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING BATTERY STATE OF HEALTH - A method for monitoring a lithium-ion battery cell includes monitoring a battery cell voltage and a corresponding charge capacity of the battery cell during an electric power event which may include either an electric power charge event or an electric power discharge event. A measured charge-capacity-derivative is determined by differentiating the charge capacity in relation to the corresponding battery cell voltage during the electric power event. The measured charge-capacity-derivative is compared with a preferred anode charge-capacity-derivative of an anode charge curve (for electric power discharge events) or an anode discharge curve (for electric power charge events), and with a preferred cathode charge-capacity-derivative of a cathode charge curve (for electric power charge events) or a cathode discharge charge curve (for electric power discharge events). A first state of health parameter of the battery cell corresponding to the comparison of the measured charge-capacity-derivative with the preferred anode charge-capacity-derivative of the anode curve is determined. And, a second state of health parameter of the battery cell corresponding to the comparison of the measured charge-capacity-derivative with the preferred cathode charge-capacity-derivative of the cathode curve is determined. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109503 | Li-ION BATTERY FOR VEHICLES WITH ENGINE START-STOP OPERATIONS - The operation of internal combustion, reciprocating engines in some automotive vehicles may be managed such that the engine operation is stopped each time the vehicle is brought to a stop, and then the engine is re-started when the operator presses the accelerator pedal to put the vehicle in motion. In some driving situations the engine of the vehicle may be stopped and re-started many times, which is a mode of engine operation for which the traditional 12 volt, lead-acid battery is not well suited. It is found that a six cell, lithium-ion battery combining LiFePO | 05-03-2012 |
20120164517 | THIN FILM BURIED ANODE DEVICES - A reverse configuration, lithium thin film battery ( | 06-28-2012 |
20120301805 | FUEL CELL FABRICATION USING PHOTOPOLYMER BASED PROCESSES - A fuel cell component is provided, including a substrate disposed adjacent at least one radiation-cured flow field layer. The flow field layer is one of disposed between the substrate and a diffusion medium layer, and disposed on the diffusion medium layer opposite the substrate. The flow field layer has at least one of a plurality of reactant flow channels and a plurality of coolant channels for the fuel cell. The fuel cell component may be assembled as part of a repeating unit for a fuel cell stack. A method for fabricating the fuel cell component and the associated repeating unit for the fuel cell is also provided. | 11-29-2012 |
20130004413 | OXIDES-BASED MATERIAL, DEVICE, AND PROCESS FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE - A hydrogen storage material comprises an oxide and a hydride that can react with each other reversibly to produce hydrogen gas. A solid state hydrogen storage device and process of producing and storing hydrogen are also described. | 01-03-2013 |
20130066105 | MODIFIED CARBON MATERIAL AND PROCESS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - A method of making modified carbon materials for use in fabricating fuel cell components. The modified carbon may comprise pendant fluorocarbon groups bonded covalently bonded thereto. In one embodiment, a mixture is formed and comprises carbon material suitable for use in a fuel cell component, an organic solvent, a compound having the general formula I-R wherein R is a fluorocarbon, and a reductant. | 03-14-2013 |
20130071736 | PHASE SEPARATED SILICON-TIN COMPOSITE AS NEGATIVE ELECTRODE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES - A composite of silicon and tin is prepared as a negative electrode composition with increased lithium insertion capacity and durability for use with a metal current collector in cells of a lithium-ion battery. This electrode material is formed such that the silicon is present as a distinct amorphous phase in a matrix phase of crystalline tin. While the tin phase provides electron conductivity, both phases accommodate the insertion and extraction of lithium in the operation of the cell and both phases interact in minimizing mechanical damage to the material as the cell experiences repeated charge and discharge cycles. In general, roughly equal atomic proportions of the tin and silicon are used in forming the phase separated composite electrode material. | 03-21-2013 |
20130118913 | ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION AND STORAGE - Both the reaction of hydride-forming compositions with hydrogen to form hydrides, and the decomposition of such hydrides to release hydrogen may be promoted electrochemically. These reactions may be conducted reversibly, and if performed in a suitable cell, the cell will serve as a hydrogen storage and release device. | 05-16-2013 |
20130202989 | COMBINED SUBGASKET AND MEMBRANE SUPPORT - A combined subgasket and membrane support for a fuel cell is provided. The combined subgasket and membrane support includes a substantially fluid impermeable feed region circumscribing a porous membrane support region. The membrane support region is integrally formed with the feed region. At least one of the membrane support region and the feed region is at least partially formed by a radiation-cured structure. A method for fabricating the subgasket and membrane support for the fuel cell is also provided. | 08-08-2013 |
20130266878 | HYDROGEN STORAGE SYSTEM INCLUDING A LITHIUM CONDUCTOR - A multiphase hydrogen storage material comprises a lithium compound and a lithium conductor. The hydrogen storage material is capable of undergoing hydrogenation and dehydrogenation cycles during which the rate of lithium transport is enhanced by the presence of the lithium conductor. A solid state hydrogen storage device and a process of storing and supplying hydrogen are also disclosed. | 10-10-2013 |
20140106220 | PHASE SEPARATED SILICON-TIN COMPOSITE AS NEGATIVE ELECTRODE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM-ION AND LITHIUM SULFUR BATTERIES - A composite of silicon and tin is prepared as a negative electrode composition with increased lithium insertion capacity and durability for use with a metal current collector in cells of a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-sulfur battery. This negative electrode material is formed such that the silicon is present as a distinct amorphous phase in a matrix phase of crystalline tin. While the tin phase provides electron conductivity, both phases accommodate the insertion and extraction of lithium in the operation of the cell and both phases interact in minimizing mechanical damage to the material as the cell experiences repeated charge and discharge cycles. In general, roughly equal atomic proportions of the tin and silicon are used in forming the phase separated composite electrode material. | 04-17-2014 |
20140113197 | COATINGS FOR LITHIUM TITANATE TO SUPPRESS GAS GENERATION IN LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USE THEREOF - An electroactive material for use in an electrochemical cell, like a lithium-ion battery, is provided. The electroactive material comprises lithium titanate oxide (LTO) and has a surface coating with a thickness of less than or equal to about 30 nm that suppresses formation of gases within the electrochemical cell. Methods for making such materials and using such materials to suppress gas formation in electrochemical cells are likewise provided. | 04-24-2014 |
20140217992 | SEPARATORS FOR LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES - This invention, in some variations, provides a separator for a lithium-sulfur battery, comprising a porous substrate that is permeable to lithium ions; and a lithium-ion-conducting metal oxide layer on the substrate, wherein the metal oxide layer includes deposits of sulfur that are intentionally introduced prior to battery operation. The deposits of sulfur may be derived from treatment of the metal oxide layer with one or more sulfur-containing precursors (e.g., lithium polysulfides) prior to operation of the lithium-sulfur battery. Other variations provide a method of charging a lithium-sulfur battery that includes the disclosed separator, the charging being accomplished by continuously applying a substantially constant voltage to the lithium-sulfur battery until the battery charging current is at or below a selected current. | 08-07-2014 |
20140220237 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING INORGANIC PROTON-CONDUCTING COATINGS FOR FUEL-CELL MEMBRANES - The present invention provides methods for fabricating a fuel cell membrane structure that can dramatically reduce fuel crossover, thereby improving fuel cell efficiency and power output. Preferred composite membrane structures include an inorganic layer situated between the anode layer and the proton-exchange membrane. The inorganic layer can conduct protons in unhydrated form, rather than as hydronium ions, which reduces fuel crossover. Some methods of this invention include certain coating steps to effectively deposit an inorganic layer on an organic proton-exchange membrane. | 08-07-2014 |
20140262813 | ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION AND STORAGE - Both the reaction of hydride-forming compositions with hydrogen to form hydrides, and the decomposition of such hydrides to release hydrogen may be promoted electrochemically. These reactions may be conducted reversibly, and if performed in a suitable cell, the cell will serve as a hydrogen storage and release device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140375325 | BATTERY WITH REFERENCE ELECTRODE FOR VOLTAGE MONITORING - A lithium-ion battery structure with a third electrode as reference electrode is disclosed. The reference electrode may be fabricated from lithium metal, lithiated carbon, or a variety of other lithium-containing electrode materials. A porous current collector allows permeation of reference lithium ions from the reference electrode to the cathode or anode, enabling voltage monitoring under actual operation of a lithium-ion battery. The reference electrode therefore does not need to be spatially between the battery anode and cathode, thus avoiding a shielding effect. The battery structure includes an external reference circuit to dynamically display the anode and cathode voltage. The battery structure can result in improved battery monitoring, enhanced battery safety, and extended battery life. | 12-25-2014 |