Bipolar plate for an apparatus with a stacked configuration, said apparatus comprised of a plurality of electrochemical cells with solid electrolyte; and method of manufacturing said plate

• US 4,619,753 A
• Filed: 01/18/1985
• Issued: 10/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri & Company Limited (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri & Company Limited (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Stucki, Samuel, Scherer, Gunther, Christen, Hans-Jorg, Devantay, Hubert, Schellenberg, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US06/692,522
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 429/44, 429/45, 429/210, 429/36, 429/37, 429/38, 204/290 F, 204/279
• US Class Current: 204/290.07
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/70 Assemblies comprising two or more cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0204 Non-porous and characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0213 Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0226 in the form of mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0228 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0232 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A bipolar plate for an apparatus having a stacked configuration, said apparatus comprised of a plurality of electrochemical cells and employing a solid electrolyte, said bipolar plate comprised of a porous titanium plate (1) having a parallel groove structure (3), said bipolar plate further comprised of a non-porous, solid titanium plate (2) strongly welded to plate (1) at contact loci (4), wherewith channels (5) are present, and said bipolar plate further comprised of a surface layer or coating (6) comprised of a material which is a catalyst for electrolytic reactions. A method of manufacturing the subject bipolar plate, comprising the following: Powder metallurgical manufacture of the porous titanium plate (1), and bonding of plate (1) to the solid titanium plate (2) by sintering. Further development of the bipolar plate by applying a non-porous, solid graphite and PVF composite plate (7) with a parallel groove structure (8), and further applying a porous graphite and PVF composite plate (10), wherewith channels (9) are present. Combining of the plates by hot pressing, sintering, or adhesive bonding, to form a compact, mechanically strong electrically conducting whole.

Claims

1. A bipolar plate for an apparatus having a stacked configuration comprised of a plurality of eletrochemical cells and employing a solid electrolyte, wherein at least one support comprised of porous titanium is provided which support serves as a current collector;

characterized in that the support is comprised of a porous titanium plate having a parallel groove structure, which structure is welded on its face side to a non-porous, solid titanium plate at the plane loci of contact, whereby laterally closed, continuous channels are formed; and

in that the side of the porous titanium plate which is directed away from the parallel groove structure is provided with a surface layer or coating comprised of a material which is a catalyst for electrolytic reactions.

2. A bipolar plate according to claim 1;

characterized in that the surface layer or coating is comprised of iridium dioxide, ruthenium dioxide, a platinum material or a mixture thereof.

3. A bipolar plate according to claim 1;

characterized in that the surface layer is comprised of lead dioxide material.

4. A bipolar plate according to claim 1;

characterized in that a solid, non-porous plate comprised of a composite graphite and PVF material, which plate has a parallel groove structure and forms channels, is strongly and rigidly affixed to the side of the non-porous, solid titanium plate, wherein said composite plate in turn bears a porous plate comprised of a composite graphite and PVF material, which plate is permanently and rigidly affixed to the side of plate on which the parallel groove structure of the latter is disposed, and which plate serves as a current collector.