Title: Fuel cell membranes and crossover prevention

Abstract

A membrane electrode assembly for use with a direct organic fuel cell containing a formic acid fuel includes a solid polymer electrolyte having first and second surfaces, an anode on the first surface and a cathode on the second surface and electrically linked to the anode. The solid polymer electrolyte has a thickness t:.gtoreq..times..times..times..times. ##EQU00001## where C.sub.f is the formic acid fuel concentration over the anode, D.sub.f is the effective diffusivity of the fuel in the solid polymer electrolyte, K.sub.f is the equilibrium constant for partition coefficient for the fuel into the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, I is Faraday's constant n.sub.f is the number of electrons released when 1 molecule of the fuel is oxidized, and j.sub.f.sup.c is an empirically determined crossover rate of fuel above which the fuel cell does not operate.

Inventors:

Masel, Richard I ^[1]; York, Cynthia A ^[2]; Waszczuk, Piotr ^[3]; Wieckowski, Andrzej ^[1]

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1. Champaign, IL
2. Newington, CT
3. White Bear Lake, MN

Issue Date:

Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2009

Research Org.:

Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

993514

Patent Number(s):

7569297

Application Number:

11/303,505

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Urbana, IL)

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

H01M4/8605 - {Porous electrodes}
H01M4/881 - {Electrolytic membranes}
H01M4/8846 - {Impregnation}
H01M4/8853 - {Electrodeposition}
H01M4/8896 - {Pressing, rolling, calendering
H01M4/92 - Metals of platinum group
H01M4/96 - Carbon-based electrodes
H01M8/0271 - Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
H01M8/04208 - {Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs}
H01M8/1004 - characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
H01M8/1009 - with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged

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

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG02-99ER14993

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

25 ENERGY STORAGE