Bipolar membrane

• US 20070141456A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wei, Chang, Wang, Dong, Yang, Hai, Wang, Shengxian, Huang, Qunjian
• Application Number:
  US11/314,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20070141456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/144
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/18 Membrane materials having mixed charged functional groups
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0094 in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/242 Hydrogen storage electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8605 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0289 Means for holding the electrolyte solid polymer electrolytes H01M8/1018
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a membrane assembly for use in a galvanic cell, the membrane assembly comprising an anionic layer in contact with an electrolyte base, a cationic layer in contact with an electrolyte acid and an intermediate layer separating the anionic layer and cationic layer.

Claims

11-1. The membrane assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte acid is in contact with ambient air.

12. A galvanic cell, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a bipolar membrane separating the anode and the cathode, the membrane comprising;

an anionic layer in contact with an electrolyte base;

a cationic layer in contact with an electrolyte acid; and

an intermediate layer separating the anionic layer from the cationic layer.

13. The galvanic cell of claim 12, wherein the cathode comprises an air electrode with a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer.

14. The galvanic cell of claim 13, wherein the catalyst layer comprises catalyst, carbon black, and a binder.

15. The galvanic cell of claim 14, wherein the catalyst comprises one or more of metal catalyst, metal oxide catalyst, or perovskite catalyst.

16. The galvanic cell of claim 13, wherein the gas diffusion layer comprises carbon black and a binder.

17. The galvanic cell of claim 12, wherein the anode comprises an active material, a binder, and at least one conductive additive.

18. The galvanic cell of claim 17, wherein the active material is a metal hydride.

19. The galvanic cell of claim 12, wherein cationic layer is configured to block air from accessing the electrolyte base.

20. The galvanic cell structure of claim 17, wherein the binder comprises one or both of polytetrafluoroethylene or carboxymethylcellulose.

21. The galvanic cell structure of claim 17, wherein the conductive additive comprises carbonyl nickel powder.

22. An electronic system, comprising:

a membrane assembly, the membrane assembly comprising;

means for providing a positive electrical potential;

means for providing a negative electrical potential; and

means for separating the positive electrical potential means from the negative electrical potential means.

23. The system as defined in claim 22, wherein the positive electrical potential means is capable of interacting with ambient air to provide oxidant for a galvanic cell.