Fuel cell and power chip technology
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell comprising:
- (a) a semiconductor substrate having;
(i) at least one ion exchange membrane substantially perpendicular to the substrate separating a source of oxygen from a source of hydrogen, (ii) an outlet path for removing water formed as a product of reaction between the oxygen and the hydrogen, (iii) a first electrode on a first side of the membrane and a second electrode on a second side of the membrane;
(iv) a catalyst in electrical communication with said membrane sides and electrodes;
(b) a cover made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the membrane; and
(c) a load coupled to said electrodes to enable extraction of power generated by said reaction.
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Abstract
A fuel cell is disclosed which is formed on a semiconductor wafer by etching channel in the wafer and forming a proton exchange membrane PEM barrier in the etched channel. The barrier divides the channel into two. A hydrogen fuel is admitted into one of the divided channels and an oxidant into the other.
The hydrogen reacts with a catalyst formed on an anode electrode at the hydrogen side of the channel to release hydrogen ions (protons) which are absorbed into the PEM. The protons migrate through the PEM and recombine with return hydrogen electrons on a cathode electrode on the oxygen side of the PEM and the oxygen to form water.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A fuel cell comprising:
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(a) a semiconductor substrate having;
(i) at least one ion exchange membrane substantially perpendicular to the substrate separating a source of oxygen from a source of hydrogen, (ii) an outlet path for removing water formed as a product of reaction between the oxygen and the hydrogen, (iii) a first electrode on a first side of the membrane and a second electrode on a second side of the membrane;
(iv) a catalyst in electrical communication with said membrane sides and electrodes;
(b) a cover made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the membrane; and
(c) a load coupled to said electrodes to enable extraction of power generated by said reaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fuel cell comprising:
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(a) a substrate;
(b) first and second flow paths for admitting fuel into the first flow path and oxidant into the second flow path;
(c) a membrane enclosing an area and having a first and second side separating the inside flow path from the outside flow path;
(d) a first electrode on the first side of the membrane and a second electrode on the second side of the membrane;
(e) a catalyst in electrical communication with the membrane sides and the electrodes; and
(f) a cover made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40)
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19. A power chip comprising:
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(a) a monolithic substrate;
(b) an array of fuel cells comprising;
(i) a plurality of first and second flow paths for admitting fuel into the first flow path and oxidant into the second flow path;
(ii) a plurality of membranes having first and second sides separating the first flow path from the second flow path;
(iii) a first electrode on the first side of each of the membranes and a second electrode on the second side of each of the membranes;
(iv) a catalyst in electrical communication with the first and second membrane sides and the electrodes;
(v) a cover made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the membranes of said array;
(c) fuel cells of said array being electrically interconnected to form a power chip;
(d) a plurality of manifolds enclosing said array to distribute fuel and oxidant to the power cells; and
(e) a plurality of power terminals.
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37. A power disc comprising:
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(a) a planar substrate;
(b) at least one power chip comprising;
(i) a plurality of flow paths for admitting fuel and oxidant;
(ii) an array of fuel cells; and
(iii) a plurality of power terminals;
(c) at least one manifold enclosing said array to distribute fuel and oxidant to the power chips; and
(d) at least one power bus terminal.
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38. A power stack comprising:
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(a) a plurality of power disks arranged adjacent with respect to each other;
(b) electrical interconnect between said power disks; and
(c) a manifold to supply fuel and oxidant to the power disks.
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41. A fuel cell comprising:
(a) a monolithic substrate having;
(i) at least one membrane substantially perpendicular to the substrate physically separating a source of oxidant from a source of fuel while enabling a reaction to occur between the oxidant and the fuel;
(ii) a first electrode on a first side of the membrane and a second electrode on a second side of the membrane;
(iii) an outlet path for removing water formed as a product of said reaction between the oxidant and the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A fuel cell comprising:
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(a) three flow channels, an inner channel and two outer channels, in a substrate wherein each outer channel is separated from the inner channel by a wall having a plurality of vertical slits;
(b) an electrode on a base of an outer side of each wall;
(c) a catalyst plurality of tines formed between the slits, and wherein said catalyst contacts said electrodes; and
(d) a lid made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the substrate.
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50. A method of forming a fuel cell comprising:
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(a) Forming a substrate;
(b) Forming first and second flow paths for admitting fuel into the first flow path and oxidant into the second flow path;
(c) Forming a membrane enclosing an area and having first and second sides separating the inside flow path from the outside flow path;
(d) Forming a first electrode on the first side of the membrane and a second electrode on the second side of the membrane;
(e) Forming a catalyst in electrical communication with the membrane sides and the electrodes; and
(f) Forming a cover made from a gas impermeable material which forms a seal with the membrane.
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51. A method of forming a power device comprising:
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(a) Forming a planar substrate;
(b) Forming at least one power chip comprising;
(i) a plurality of flow paths for admitting fuel and oxidant;
(ii) an array of fuel cells;
(iii) a plurality of power terminals; and
(c) Forming at least one manifold enclosing said array to distribute fuel and oxidant to the power chips; and
(d) Forming at least one power bus terminal.
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52. A method of forming a power stack comprising:
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(a) Forming a plurality of power disks arranged adjacent with respect to each other;
(b) Forming an electrical interconnect between said power disks; and
(c) Forming a manifold to supply fuel and oxidant to the power disks.
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53. A method of forming a fuel cell on a seminconductor wafer comprising:
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(a) Forming at least one proton exchange membrane substantially perpendicular to the substrate for separating a source of oxygen from a source of hydrogen while enabling a reaction to occur between said hydrogen and oxygen;
(b) Forming an outlet path for removing water formed as a product of said reaction between the oxygen and the hydrogen;
(c) Forming a first electrode on a first side of the membrane and a second electrode on a second side of the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method of forming a fuel cell using a planar substrate in which the active surface of the fuel cell is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate and has a large width to height ratio.
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59. A method of forming a smart fuel cell wherein electronics are used to sense and control the fuel consumption and the operating efficiency of the fuel cell, the electronics being integrated on the same substrate as the fuel cell.
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60. A method of forming a fuel cell on a planar substrate in which holes are formed in said substrate allowing fuel and oxidant to flow vertically thereby reducing the length of the flow path.
Specification