摘要:
The present invention provides a method for conveniently manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) at a cost that is less than five-hundred dollars per kilowatt of electricity. The method comprises forming an electrode layer and depositing an electrolyte material on the surface of the electrode. The formed structure is an electrode-electrolyte bi-layer. A second electrode is deposited onto this bi-layer to form a multilayer fuel cell structure comprising an electrolyte positioned between two electrodes. This multilayer structure is then heated and fired in a single thermal cycle to remove any binder materials and sinter, respectively, the fuel cell. This thermal cycle can be performed in a furnace having one or more chambers. The chamber(s) preferably contains a variable or multiple frequency microwave source for heating the cell and removing binder materials in the electrolyte and electrode structures. The chamber(s) also preferably include a convection and/or radiation source for sintering the fuel cell. In addition, the method of the invention harmonizes and minimizes the deviation among the thermophysical properties of the electrolyte and electrode structures. This harmonization reduces and minimizes the temperature gradient within the cell such that the structure can be uniformly heated and fired during the thermal cycle. The multilayer structure is also unlikely to distort and fracture by minimizing the temperature gradient in the cell. An SOFC can also be manufactured by the present method in an order of magnitude less time than standard processes.
摘要:
An anode assembly for a liquid fuel cell, wherein the assembly comprises at least two of (a) an anode (3) with a hydrophilized side which contacts the fuel, (b) a gas-blocking polymeric material (20) on the side of the anode which contacts the electrolyte, and (c) a membrane (8) on the fuel side of the anode (3) which substantially prevents liquid fuel to contact the anode (3) when the fuel cell is in an open circuit or stand-by regime and hydrogen gas evolves at the anode.
摘要:
An electrocatalyst comprising one or more metal particles, wherein the metal particles are substantially covered by carbon, is disclosed. The electrocatalyst may be incorporated into electrocatalyst inks, catalysed electrodes; catalyst coated membranes and membrane electrode assemblies and is suitable for use in a fuel cell.
摘要:
A gas diffusion electrode and method of making the same. According to one embodiment, the electrode comprises a support layer, a first cushioning layer positioned on top of the support layer, a second cushioning layer positioned on top of the first cushioning layer, and a catalyst layer positioned on top of the second cushioning layer. The support layer is a mechanically stable, electrically-conductive, gas porous substrate, such as carbon fiber paper. The first cushioning layer, which is also gas porous, comprises a non-woven mat of electrically-conductive, chemically-inert fibers, preferably carbon nanofibers, bound together with a polymeric binder, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The second cushioning layer is similar to the first cushioning layer, except that carbon black or a similar electrically-conductive, chemically-inert particulate material is included in addition to or instead of the fibrous material for the purpose of fine-tuning pore size.
摘要:
An oxygen reducing electrode for a fuel cell comprises carbon particles as support for catalyst particles. The carbon particles are coated with smaller particles of a metal oxide and/or metal phosphate (for example, TiO 2 particles) to impede destructive oxidation (corrosion) of the carbon particles while permitting suitable electrical conductivity between the carbon particles. The catalyst is carried on the smaller particle-coated carbon particles. Titanium dioxide particles can be dispersed on carbon particles suspended in a liquid medium by ultrasonic decomposition of a suitable titanium precursor compound.
摘要:
The present invention relates to palladium-cobalt particles useful as oxygen- reducing electrocatalysts. The invention also relates to oxygen-reducing cathodes and fuel cells containing these palladium-cobalt particles. The invention additionally relates to methods for the production of electrical energy by using the palladium- cobalt particles of the invention.
摘要:
Corrosion of the carbon catalyst support may occur at both the anode and cathode catalyst layers within an electrochemical fuel cell. Such corrosion may lead to reduced performance and/or decreased lifetimes of the fuel cell. Nevertheless, carbon supports have many desirable properties as catalyst supports including high surface area, high electrical conductivity, good porosity and density. To reduce or eliminate corrosion of the carbon catalyst support, the carbon support may have a metal surface treatment and, in particular, a metal carbide surface treatment. Suitable metal carbides include titanium, tungsten and molybdenum. In this manner, the metal carbide surface treatment protects the underlying carbon support from corrosion while maintaining the desirable characteristics of the carbon support.
摘要:
First, a solid-state electrolyte layer that has conductivity for ions of one of hydrogen and oxygen is formed. After that, a dense layer made of an electrode material that has electron conductivity, catalyst activity to accelerate the electrochemical reaction, and a characteristic of allowing permeation of ions and/or atoms of the other one of hydrogen and oxygen is formed on a surface of the electrolyte layer. Then a fuel cell structure that includes the electrolyte layer and the dense layer is built. After that, the electrochemical reaction is caused to progress by supplying a fuel and oxygen to the fuel cell structure, so that in the dense layer, many micropores extending through the dense layer in the film thickness direction are created due to the generated water that is created between the electrolyte layer and the dense layer.
摘要:
A Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell including a hydrogen electrode utilizing non-node metal hydrogen oxidation catalysts, and/or an oxygen electrode utilizing non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalysts. The non-noble metal hydrogen oxidation catalysts and the non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalysts provide for a long catalyst cycle life due to increased stability and poisoning resistance in an acidic environment.