Abstract:
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. The plate comprises a plate body having a surface defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, at least a portion of the surface having a roughness average of 0.5 to 5 μm and a contact resistance of less than 40 mohm cm2 when sandwiched between carbon papers at 200 psi.
Abstract:
A flow field plate for a fuel cell that has one or more outer layers that makes the plate more conductive and hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the coating is co-deposited as combination of a conductive material and a metal oxide coating. A suitable conductive material is gold and suitable metal oxides include SiO 2 , HfO 2 , ZrO 2 , AI2O 3 , SnO 2 , Ta2O 5 , Nb2O 5 , MoO 2 , IrO 2 , RuO 2 and mixtures thereof. The conductive material and metal oxide can also be deposited as two separate layers, where the metal oxide is the outer layer. According to another embodiment, a metal layer is deposited on the plate with nanopores that provide the hydrophilicity. Also, doping ions can be added to the metal oxide to provide low fluoride solubility of the coating to control the rate that hydrofluoric acid etches away the oxide layer.
Abstract translation:一种用于燃料电池的流场板,其具有使得该板更具导电性和亲水性的一个或多个外层。 在一个实施方案中,涂层作为导电材料和金属氧化物涂层的组合共沉积。 合适的导电材料是金,合适的金属氧化物包括SiO 2,HfO 2,ZrO 2,Al 2 O 3, ,SnO 2,Ta 2 O 5,Nb 2 O 5,MoO 2,Ir 2 O 2,N 2 O 2, ,RuO 2 2和它们的混合物。 导电材料和金属氧化物也可以沉积成两个分开的层,其中金属氧化物是外层。 根据另一个实施方案,金属层沉积在具有提供亲水性的纳米孔的板上。 此外,可以向金属氧化物中加入掺杂离子以提供涂层的低氟溶解度以控制氢氟酸蚀刻离开氧化物层的速率。
Abstract:
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 a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a polymeric porous conductive layer proximate the plate body, with the porous conductive layer having a porosity sufficient to result in a water contact angle of the surface of less than 40°.
Abstract:
One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si-O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.
Abstract:
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the hydrophilic electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises a plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, and a composite conductive coating having a water contact angle of less than 40° adhered to the plate body. In at least one embodiment, the composite coating comprises a polymeric conductive layer adhered to the plate body having an exterior surface, and a particulate carbon layer adhered to the exterior surface of the polymeric conductive layer.
Abstract:
A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes an outer layer of a metal oxide or other material that makes the plate hydrophilic. The particular metal oxide and the thickness of the metal oxide layer are selected so that hydrofluoric acid generated by the fuel cell continuously etches away the layer at a predetermined rate so that a surface of the layer is free of contaminants over the entire life of the fuel cell. If the fuel cell does not employ a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, then a separate hydrofluoric acid source can be provided that injects a low level solution of hydrofluoric acid into one or both of the reactant gas streams.
Abstract:
A flow field plate for a fuel cell that includes a metal oxide coating that makes the plate hydrophilic. In one embodiment, the metal oxide coating is a thin film to maintain the conductive properties of the flow field plate. The metal oxide can be combined with a conductive oxide. According to another embodiment, the metal oxide coating is deposited as islands on the flow field plate so that the flow field plate is exposed between the islands. According to another embodiment, lands between the flow channels are polished to remove the metal oxide layer and expose the flow field plate. According to another embodiment, the flow field plate is blasted with alumina so that embedded alumina particles and the roughened surface of the plate provide the hydrophilicity.