Title: Apparatus and method associated with reformer-less fuel cell

Abstract

An electrolyte membrane for a reformer-less fuel cell is provided. The electrolyte membrane is assembled with fuel and air manifolds to form the fuel cell. The fuel manifold receives an oxidizable fuel from a fuel supply in a gaseous, liquid, or slurry form. The air manifold receives air from an air supply. The electrolyte membrane conducts oxygen in an ionic superoxide form when the fuel cell is exposed to operating temperatures above the boiling point of water to electrochemically combine the oxygen with the fuel to produce electricity. The electrolyte membrane includes a porous electrically non-conductive substrate, an anode catalyst layer deposited along a fuel manifold side of the substrate, a cathode catalyst layer deposited along an air manifold side of the substrate, and an ionic liquid filling the substrate between the anode and cathode catalyst layers. Methods for manufacturing and operating the electrolyte membrane are also provided.

Inventors:

Sahu, Saroj Kumar

Issue Date:

2019-12-24

Research Org.:

Palo Alto Research Center Inc., CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1600438

Patent Number(s):

10516181

Application Number:

14/472,195

Assignee:

Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated (Palo Alto, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

H01M2004/8684 - {Negative electrodes}
H01M2004/8689 - {Positive electrodes}
H01M4/881 - {Electrolytic membranes}
H01M4/8853 - {Electrodeposition}
H01M4/8871 - {Sputtering}
H01M4/8878 - {Treatment steps after deposition of the catalytic active composition or after shaping of the electrode being free-standing body}
H01M4/9025 - {Oxides specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC}
H01M4/905 - {specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC}
H01M4/9058 - {of noble metals or noble-metal based alloys}
H01M8/1004 - characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
H01M8/1016 - characterised by the electrolyte material
H01M8/1233 - with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
H01M8/124 - characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
H01M8/14 - Fuel cells with fused electrolytes
H01M8/22 - Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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DOE Contract Number:  

P017.2012

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 08/28/2014

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English