System for cation-electron intrusion and collision in a non-conductive material

• US 8,083,904 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ceram Hyd
• Original Assignee: Ceram Hyd
• Inventors: Mofakhami, Arash
• Primary Examiner(s): Neckel, Alexa D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Nicholas A.
• Application Number:
  US11/570,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20080160359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 204/155, 204/242, 205/340, 205/637
• US Class Current: 204/155
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0005 Reversible uptake of hydrogen by an appropriate medium, i.e. based on physical or chemical sorption phenomena or on reversible chemical reactions, e.g. for hydrogen storage purposes purification of hydrogen C01B3/508; Reversible gettering of hydrogen; Reversible uptake of hydrogen by electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/04 by decomposition of inorganic compounds, e.g. ammonia C01B3/0005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A device for colliding at least one H+ ion and at least one electron may comprise at least one electromagnetic field generator for extracting the at least one H+ ion from a hydrogen-containing compound and transferring the at least one H+ ion toward a cathode. The device also may comprise at least one non-conductive material positioned between at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing compound and the cathode so that the colliding of the at least one H+ ion and the at least one electron occurs within the non-conductive material.

Claims

1. A device for colliding at least one H+ion and at least one electron,

the device comprising:

at least one electromagnetic field generator for extracting the at least one H+ ion from a hydrogen-containing compound and transferring the at least one H+ ion toward a cathode; and

at least one non-conductive material positioned between at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing compound and the cathode so that the colliding of the at least one H+ ion and the at least one electron occurs within the non-conductive material.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the field generator comprises two conductive plates placed at a potential difference.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cathode is integral with one of the conductive plates.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing compound comprises an aqueous acidic electrolytic solution.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing compound comprises a liquid compound.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing compound comprises a solid compound.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing compound comprises a gaseous compound.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing compound comprises a plasma.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises a ceramic.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises at least one layer of a ceramic.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises at least one layer of a crystal and at least one layer of a ceramic.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the ceramic comprises hexagonal boron nitride.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material covers at least part of the cathode.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material covers substantially the entire cathode.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material is configured to prevent any contact between the hydrogen-containing compound and the cathode.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein an energy of the at least one H+ ion in the non-conductive material causes the colliding to produce at least one hydrogen atom.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein an energy of the at least H+ ion in the non-conductive material causes the colliding to produce at least one neutron.

18. A system comprising:

the device of 1; and

a fuel cell supplied with hydrogen released from the device.

19. A method of colliding at least one H+ ion and at least one electron, comprising:

positioning at least one non-conductive material between at least a portion of a hydrogen-containing compound and a cathode;

extracting at least one H+ ion from the hydrogen-containing compound; and

inserting the at least one H+ ion into the non-conductive material, the at least one H+ ion colliding with at least one electron supplied by the cathode within said non-conductive material.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising extracting the at least one H+ ion from the hydrogen-containing compound using an electromagnetic field.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising inserting the at least one H⁺ ion into the non-conductive material by ion transfer.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein an energy of the at least one H+ ion within said non-conductive material causes the colliding to produce at least one hydrogen atom.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein an energy of the at least one H+ ion within said non-conductive material causes the colliding to produce at least one neutron.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-conductive material is heated to release hydrogen.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising supplying a fuel cell with the released hydrogen.