Abstract:
An electrolyte membrane is disclosed, for use in a fuel cell, and is composed of ionic transporting elements embedded in a polymer matrix. The elements can be carbon products, dye stuffs molecules, organic molecules, inorganic molecules, semiconductors, oxides, or superconductors. The elements carry ionic groups by chemical attachment of physical absorption. The electrolyte membrane can be a homogeneous or inhomogeneous blend of the ionic transporting elements in the polymer matrix. An anode and an opposing cathode are on opposite sides of the membrane. Respective catalysts are on the anode and cathode. A gas diffusion layer contacts the anode and has openings to allow fuel from a fuel source to pass through to the anode, as fuel is consumed at the anode. Another gas diffusion layer contacts the cathode and has openings to allow oxygen to pass through to the cathode. Fuel consumption generates electricity and produces water.
Abstract:
The invention provides a fuel cell comprising an anode in an anode region of the cell and a cathode in a cathode region of the cell, the anode being separated from the cathode by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane, the anode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an alcoholic fuel, the cathode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an oxidant, the cell being provided with means for generating an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode and with a non¬ volatile redox couple in solution in flowing fluid communication with the cathode in the cathode region of the cell, the redox couple being at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially re-generated by reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, the redox couple and/or the concentration of the redox couple in the catholyte solution being selected so that the current density generated by the cell in operation is substantially unaffected by the crossover of the alcoholic fuel from the anode region of the cell to the cathode region of the cell across the polymer electrolyte membrane.
Abstract:
A liquid cartridge comprises a vessel body for containing liquid, the vessel body comprising a plurality of surfaces, an oxygen outlet provided on one surface among the plurality of surfaces of the vessel body, and an oxygen input provided on a surface other than a furthest surface from the surface on which the oxygen outlet is formed among the plurality of surfaces of the vessel body.
Abstract:
A carbon nanofiber paper comprising a web of sulfonated multi-walled nanofibers. In one embodiment, the nanofibers have a stacked cup or cone helix structure, a diameter of about 10 to 500 nm, and carry sulfonic acid groups in an amount of at least about 5.3 x 10 -3 moles/cm 2 . The paper can be used in a fuel cell membrane such as a gas diffusion layer or catalyst support.
Abstract:
For use in a DMFC, a proton-conducting membrane containing a proton- conducting host polymer and a functionalized fullerene having one or more proton accepting or proton donating functional groups selected from: >C[PO(OH) 2 ] 2 ; - PO(OH) 2 J-OH; -SO 3 H; -NH 2 ; -CN; -HOSO 3 H; -COOH; -OPO(OH) 2 ; and -OSO 3 or a combination of two or more of these groups attached to the fullerene.