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 |
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 |
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 |
20090286132 | HYDROLYTICALLY-STABLE HYDROPHILIC COATINGS FOR PEMFC BIPOLAR PLATE - Bipolar plates useful for fuel cell applications include a plate body having a channel-defining surface that is at least partially coated with a hydrophilic layer. This hydrophilic layer comprises residues of a silane-coupling agent in a sufficient amount such portions of the first hydrophilic layer have a contact angle less than a predetermined value. | 11-19-2009 |
20100136462 | CONDUCTIVE AND HYDROPHILIC COATING FOR PEMFC BIPOLAR PLATE - An electrically conductive plate for fuel cell applications comprises a plate body having at least one channel-defining surface and an electrically conductive hydrophilic layer disposed over at least a portion of the channel-defining surface. The electrically conductive layer includes residues of a silane coupling agent and electrically conductive hydrophilic carbon. | 06-03-2010 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20110171564 | REVERSIBLE SUPERHYDROPHILIC-SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COATING FOR FUEL CELL BIPOLAR PLATES AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell bipolar plate having a reversible super hydrophilic-super hydrophobic coating over at least a portion thereof. | 07-14-2011 |
20110311720 | Electrically Conductive Metal Fluid Distribution Plate for Fuel Cells - In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprising a metallic plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, a metal-containing adhesion promoting layer having a thickness less than 100 nm disposed on the plate body, and a composite polymeric conductive layer disposed on the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer. | 12-22-2011 |
20120021336 | SUPER-HYDROPHOBIC COMPOSITE BIPOLAR PLATE INCLUDING A POROUS SURFACE LAYER - A hydrophobic composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a substrate having a composite material including carbon and a surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer includes silicon and oxygen, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen. | 01-26-2012 |
20120189938 | Hydrolytically-Stable Hydrophilic Coating for Bipolar Plates - A method for forming a hydrolytically-stable hydrophilic coating on a fuel cell flow field plate comprises contacting a flow field plate with a titanium oxide sol to form a titanium oxide layer disposed upon the flow field plate. The coated flow field plate is subsequently contacted with a silicon oxide sol to form a silicon oxide/titanium oxide bilayer disposed upon the flow field plate. A flow field plate formed by the method is also provided. | 07-26-2012 |
20120288782 | STABLE ULTRALYOPHOBIC COATING FOR PEMFC BIPOLAR PLATE WATER MANAGEMENT - An electrode plate is disclosed. The electrode plate includes a plate having an active area, a feed region in fluid communication with the active region, and a tunnel region in fluid communication with the feed region and a manifold region, an ultralyophobic coating on one or more of at least a portion of the tunnel region, at least a portion of the feed region, and an interface between the tunnel region and the manifold region. Fuel cells using the electrode plate and methods of making electrode plates are also described. | 11-15-2012 |
20130122390 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THICKNESS OF FORM-IN-PLACE SEALING FOR PEM FUEL CELL STACKS - A sealed assembly is made using sealant including a deformable spacer to control thickness without adversely impacting elasticity and sealing force. Deformable spacers (e.g., elastomer, polyolefin, etc.) are mixed with an elastomeric precursor material and dispensed onto an assembly component, such as a fuel cell bipolar plate, and the remaining component(s) are assembled by pressing against the deformable spacer to ensure a defined seal thickness. The precursor is cured to form a seal that is further compressed to provide an effective sealing force. The deformable spacers control the thickness of a sealed area and allow use of form-in-place sealing processes. | 05-16-2013 |
20130344420 | 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. | 12-26-2013 |
20140329166 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING THICKNESS OF FORM-IN-PLACE SEALING FOR PEM FUEL CELL STACKS - A sealed assembly is made using sealant including a deformable spacer to control thickness without adversely impacting elasticity and sealing force. Deformable spacers (e.g., elastomer, polyolefin, etc.) are mixed with an elastomeric precursor material and dispensed onto an assembly component, such as a fuel cell bipolar plate, and the remaining component(s) are assembled by pressing against the deformable spacer to ensure a defined seal thickness. The precursor is cured to form a seal that is further compressed to provide an effective sealing force. The deformable spacers control the thickness of a sealed area and allow use of form-in-place sealing processes. | 11-06-2014 |