# US 10,483,555 B2 · Fuel cells using vertically free standing graphene and carbon nanosheets

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- Number: US 10,483,555 B2
- Document ID: US10483555B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/374,712
- Filed: 2016-12-09
- Published: 2017-06-15
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-11
- Applicants: Wei Zheng; Xin Zhao
- Inventors: Wei Zheng; Xin Zhao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483555B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/926: {on carbon or graphite}
- H01M 4/8673: {Electrically conductive fillers}
- H01M 8/0213: Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
- H01M 8/0234: Carbonaceous material
- H01M 8/1051: Non-ion-conducting additives, e.g. stabilisers, SiO2 or ZrO2
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

This disclosure is about invention of fuel cells comprising vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets in the components, and methods of making thereof. Performance enhancement effect of the fuel cell is achieved by using vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets as: 1) surface coating of electrically conducting components, 2) and/or a geometric geometric structural supporter of additive catalyst materials, 3) and/or a synergic catalytic nano-composite

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell, comprising:
a cathode;
an anode; and
an electrolyte,
wherein a plurality of vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets, of which the thickness is 2 nanometers or less, having a base layer of planar one to seven atomic layers graphene materials, having folded and crumpled topological structure, grow up on surfaces of the cathode and/or the anode, by a plasma technology.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets, of which the thickness is 2 nanometers or less, having a base layer of planar one to seven atomic layers graphene materials, having folded and crumpled topological structure, are used as structural supporter of additive catalyst materials.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein
the plurality of vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets, of which the thickness is 2 nanometers or less, having a base layer of planar one to seven atomic layers graphene materials, having folded and crumpled topological structure, are doped with atoms, molecules and/or nano-particles, in order to work as a synergic catalytic nano-composite.

### Claim 4

A gas diffusion layer (GDL) as a component of a fuel cell, which has a plurality of vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets, of which the thickness is 2 nanometers or less, having a base layer of planar one to seven atomic layers graphene materials, having folded and crumpled topological structure, growing up on the GDL surface.

### Claim 5

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) as a component of a fuel cell, wherein a plurality of vertically free-standing graphene-containing carbon nanosheets, of which the thickness is 2 nanometers or less, having a base layer of planar one to seven atomic layers graphene materials, having folded and crumpled topological structure, grow up between a gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface and an electrolyte layer.