Liquid feed fuel cell with nested sealing configuration
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell comprising:
- (a) an anode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said anode current collector major planar portion, said anode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said anode current collector;
(b) a cathode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said cathode current collector major planar portion, said cathode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said cathode current collector;
(c) at least one layer of electrically insulative material interposed between said anode current collector and said cathode current collector, said electrically insulative material further including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), said MEA comprising a membrane electrolyte having two oppositely facing major planar surfaces, a first electrocatalyst layer disposed on one of said electrolyte surfaces and a second electrocatalyst layer disposed on the other of said electrolyte surface;
(d) an anode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said anode current collector and said MEA, said anode fluid diffusion layer at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material;
(e) a cathode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said cathode current collector and said MEA, said cathode fluid diffusion layer at least partially consisting of an electrically conductive material;
wherein said perpendicularly extending edge of said cathode current collector is capable of cooperating with the said perpendicularly extending edge of said anode current collector to effect a press fit, thereby at least partially sealing fluids disposed within the volume formed between said current collector major portions, and thereby at least partially promoting the diffusion of cations from said anode diffusion layer to said cathode diffusion layer.
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Abstract
A direct formic acid fuel cell includes a cathode current collector having a perpendicularly extending edge that is capable of cooperating with the perpendicularly extending edge of an anode current collector to effect a press fit. The configuration seals fluids disposed within the volume formed between the current collectors.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A fuel cell comprising:
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(a) an anode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said anode current collector major planar portion, said anode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said anode current collector;
(b) a cathode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said cathode current collector major planar portion, said cathode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said cathode current collector;
(c) at least one layer of electrically insulative material interposed between said anode current collector and said cathode current collector, said electrically insulative material further including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), said MEA comprising a membrane electrolyte having two oppositely facing major planar surfaces, a first electrocatalyst layer disposed on one of said electrolyte surfaces and a second electrocatalyst layer disposed on the other of said electrolyte surface;
(d) an anode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said anode current collector and said MEA, said anode fluid diffusion layer at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material;
(e) a cathode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said cathode current collector and said MEA, said cathode fluid diffusion layer at least partially consisting of an electrically conductive material;
wherein said perpendicularly extending edge of said cathode current collector is capable of cooperating with the said perpendicularly extending edge of said anode current collector to effect a press fit, thereby at least partially sealing fluids disposed within the volume formed between said current collector major portions, and thereby at least partially promoting the diffusion of cations from said anode diffusion layer to said cathode diffusion layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fuel cell array comprising at least two fuel cells, each of said fuel cells comprising:
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(a) an anode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said anode current collector major planar portion, said anode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said anode current collector;
(b) a cathode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said cathode current collector major planar portion, said cathode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said cathode current collector;
(c) at least one layer of electrically insulative material disposed between said anode current collector and said cathode current collector, said electrically insulative material further including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) interposed between said anode current collector and cathode current collector, said MEA comprising a membrane electrolyte having two oppositely facing major planar surfaces, a first electrocatalyst layer disposed on one of said membrane surfaces and a second electrocatalyst layer disposed on the other of said membrane surfaces;
(d) an anode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said anode current collector and said MEA, said anode fluid diffusion layer at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material;
(e) a cathode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said cathode current collector and said MEA, said cathode fluid diffusion layer at least partially comprising an electrically conductive material;
said fuel cell array further comprising a frame having at least two edge portions, each of said edge portions having a channel formed therein for accommodating said perpendicularly extending edges of said anode and cathode current collectors, thereby substantially containing fluids disposed within the volume formed within said fuel cell array. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A fuel cell comprising:
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(a) an anode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said anode current collector major planar portion;
(b) a cathode current collector having a major planar portion and at least one edge that extends substantially perpendicularly from and substantially circumscribes said cathode current collector major planar portion, said cathode current collector major planar portion having at least one opening formed therein for facilitating fluid diffusion through said cathode current collector;
(c) at least one layer of electrically insulative material disposed between said anode current collector and said cathode current collector, said electrically insulative material further including a sealant and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) interposed between said anode current collector and cathode current collector, said MEA comprising a membrane electrolyte having two oppositely facing major planar surfaces, a first electrocatalyst layer disposed on one of said membrane surfaces and a second electrocatalyst layer disposed on the other of said membrane surfaces;
(d) an anode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said anode current collector and said MEA, said anode fluid diffusion layer at least partially consisting of an electrically conductive material;
(e) a cathode fluid diffusion layer interposed between said cathode current collector and said MEA, said cathode fluid diffusion layer at least partially consisting of an electrically conductive material;
wherein said perpendicularly extending edge of said cathode current collector is capable of cooperating with the said perpendicularly extending edge of said anode current collector to effect a press fit, and wherein said sealant seals said perpendicularly extending edges of said anode current collector and said cathode current collector, thereby at least partially sealing fluids disposed within the volume formed between said current collector major portions. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification