FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER

• US 20100151356A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WATT Power Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Dean R., Watt, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 8,404,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/506
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0002 Aqueous electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0025 Organic electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1013 Other direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/222 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on compounds containing nitrogen, e.g. hydrazine, ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A non-microbial fuel cell utilizing an organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group and a non-metallic catalyst is disclosed. Compositions for use in and methods for generating electric energy from chemical energy using fuel cells are also disclosed. Compositions for use in and methods of storing energy using fuel cells are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fuel cell comprising:

(a) a positive electrode;

(b) a negative electrode; and

,

(c) an electrolyte intervening between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electrolyte further comprising;

(i) an organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group; and

,

(ii) a non-metallic catalyst.

4. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is a carbohydrate.

13. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is an alcohol.

17. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a violene having the formula X—

(CR═

CR′

)_n—

X′

;

where X and X′

are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen, each independently substituted with H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

(CR═

CR′

) is an aromatic group or apart of an aromatic group;

n is an integer provided that aromaticity of (CR═

CR′

) is maintained; and

R and R′

are each independently H or a bond.

20. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

wherein the pyridinium ring may be optionally substituted with an electron withdrawing group or electron donating group.

21. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ and R¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R¹ and R¹⁰ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each R², R³, R⁴, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group;

each R⁵ and R⁶ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R⁵ and R⁶ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each A⁻

is independently an anion;

each Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ are independently C or N, wherein at least one of Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ is N and the R group geminal to N is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

5-12. -12. (canceled)

14-16. -16. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

22-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell, comprising:

(a) an organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group; and

,

(b) a non-metallic catalyst.

41. The composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is a carbohydrate.

50. The composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is an alcohol.

54. The composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a violene having the formula X—

(CR═

CR′

)_n—

X′

;

where X and X′

are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen, each independently substituted with H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

(CR═

CR′

) is an aromatic group or apart of an aromatic group;

n is an integer provided that aromaticity of (CR═

CR′

) is maintained; and

R and R′

are each independently H or a bond.

57. The composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

wherein the pyridinium ring may be optionally substituted with an electron withdrawing group or electron donating group.

58. The composition for use as an energy source in a fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ and R¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R¹ and R¹⁰ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each R², R³, R⁴, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group;

each R⁵ and R⁶ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R⁵ and R⁶ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each A⁻

is independently an anion;

each Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ are independently C or N, wherein at least one of Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ is N and the R group geminal to N is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium.

40. (canceled)

42-49. -49. (canceled)

51-53. -53. (canceled)

55-56. -56. (canceled)

59-75. -75. (canceled)

76. A method for generating electric power, comprising:

(a) providing a positive electrode;

(b) providing a negative electrode;

(c) providing an electrolyte intervening between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electrolyte further comprising an organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group and a non-metallic catalyst; and

,

(d) contacting the positive electrode and the negative electrode with a conductor.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is a carbohydrate.

88. The method of claim 76, wherein the organic fuel containing a hydroxyl group is an alcohol.

92. The method of claim 76, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a violene having the formula X—

(CR═

CR′

)_nX′

;

where X and X′

are independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen, each independently substituted with H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

(CR═

CR′

) is an aromatic group or apart of an aromatic group;

n is an integer provided that aromaticity of (CR═

CR′

) is maintained; and

R and R′

are each independently H or a bond.

95. The method of claim 76, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium;

wherein the pyridinium ring may be optionally substituted with an electron withdrawing group or electron donating group.

96. The method of claim 76, wherein the non-metallic catalyst is a compound having the formula:

where R¹ and R¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R¹ and R¹⁰ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each R², R³, R⁴, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group;

each R⁵ and R⁶ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, alkylammonium, an electron donating group, and an electron withdrawing group, or together R⁵ and R⁶ are selected from the group consisting of ethyl, propyl, and ethenyl;

each A⁻

is independently an anion;

each Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ are independently C or N, wherein at least one of Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴, Y⁵, Y⁶, Y⁷, Y⁸, Y⁹, and Y¹⁰ is N and the R group geminal to N is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, alkylthio, and alkylammonium.

77-78. -78. (canceled)

80-87. -87. (canceled)

89-91. -91. (canceled)

93-94. -94. (canceled)

97-151. -151. (canceled)