Fuel cell for microcapsule-type robot and microcapsule-type robot powered by the same

• US 20060094928A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Hyuk, Choi, Kyoung Hwan, Ko, Christopher Hansung
• Granted Patent: US 8,003,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8605 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8882 Heat treatment, e.g. drying, baking
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8896 Pressing, rolling, calendering membrane electrode assemblies H01M8/1004
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/921 Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1013 Other direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell for a microcapsule-type robot uses alcohol or an aqueous alcohol solution as a fuel and was hydrogen peroxide or an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution as an oxidizing agent. A microcapsule-type robot also uses the fuel cell. The fuel cell may be used in a microcapsule-type endoscope and have an operating time that is long enough to diagnose human organs. The fuel cell may comprise hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent instead of air or oxygen such that the fuel cell can operate inside the human body. Thus, an oxygen source, which cannot be obtained in a human body, can be easily supplied to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell has higher performance than a fuel cell in which air is used as an oxidizing agent.

Claims

1. A fuel cell for a microcapsule-type robot, comprising:

a cathode to which a fuel is supplied;

an anode to which an oxidizing agent is supplied; and

an electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode,

wherein the fuel is alcohol or an aqueous alcohol solution, and

wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide or an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution.

2. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein the cathode comprises:

a catalytic double-layer comprising a first catalytic layer including Al and a second catalytic layer including Pt;

or

a catalytic single-layer including Pt and Al

3. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein the anode comprises a catalytic layer including a PtSn-based alloy or a PtRu-based alloy.

4. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein the alcohol is ethanol or methanol.

5. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein the fuel is ethanol or an aqueous ethanol solution,

wherein the anode comprises a catalytic layer including a PtSn-based alloy, and

wherein the cathode comprises a catalytic double-layer including a first catalytic layer including Al and a second catalytic layer including Pt.

6. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein the fuel is methanol or an aqueous methanol solution,

wherein the anode comprises a catalytic layer including a PtRu-based alloy, and

wherein the cathode comprises a catalytic double-layer including a first catalytic layer including Al and a second catalytic layer including Pt.

7. The fuel cell of claim 1,

wherein all or some water that is generated at the anode is supplied to the cathode.

8. A microcapsule-type robot comprising the fuel cell of claim 1.

9. The microcapsule-type robot of claim 8,

wherein the microcapsule robot is a microcapsule-type endoscope, comprising:

a capsule type robot body;

a camera unit located inside the capsule type robot body;

a lighting unit located inside the capsule type robot body;

a transmitter located inside the capsule type robot body;

a control unit located inside the capsule type robot body to control the operations of the camera unit, the lighting unit, and the transmitter; and

a power supply unit positioned inside the capsule type robot body to supply power to the camera unit, the lighting unit, the transmitter, and the control unit.

10. The microcapsule-type robot of claim 8, further comprising:

a discharge unit that discharges carbon dioxide that is generated at the anode of the fuel cell and water that is generated at the cathode of the fuel cell.

11. The microcapsule-type robot of claim 10,

wherein all or some of the water that is generated at the cathode is cycled to the anode to participate in a reaction that occurs at the anode.