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US 2006/0040170 A1Published application
Flat panel direct methanol fuel cell and method for making the same
AssigneeNan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corporation
InventorsYung-Yi LIU, James SHANG, Yi-Chen Chen
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Abstract
A flat panel DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) includes an integrated cathode electrode sheet, a set of membrane electrode assemblies, an intermediate bonding layer, an integrated anode electrode sheet, and a fuel container base. The integrated cathode/anode electrode sheets are manufactured by using PCB compatible processes.
Claims16
A method for assembling a flat panel direct methanol fuel cell, the method comprising:
- providing an integrated cathode electrode sheet comprising a first substrate, a plurality of cathode electrode areas, and a first conductive via through hole, wherein the cathode electrode areas are electroplated on both the front and the backside of the first substrate and have a plurality of apertures therein, wherein the first conductive via through hole is disposed outside the cathode electrode areas and is electronically connected to the respective cathode electrode areas with a conductive wire;
- providing a plurality of proton exchange membranes corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas;
- providing an intermediate bonding layer comprising at least one bonding sheet, wherein the intermediate bonding layer comprises a plurality of openings for respectively accommodating the plurality of proton exchange membranes, and a second conductive via through hole that is aligned with the first conductive via through hole;
- providing an integrated anode electrode sheet comprising a second substrate, a plurality of anode electrode areas corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas, and a third conductive via through hole corresponding to the first conductive via through hole;
- stacking the integrated cathode electrode sheet, the plurality of proton exchange membranes, the intermediate bonding layer, and the integrate anode electrode sheet in order;
- aligning and penetrating the first conductive via through hole, the second conductive via through hole, and the third conductive via through hole by using a metal plug;
- utilizing the metal plug to conduct and to fix the first conductive via through hole, the second conductive via through hole, and the third conductive via through hole in place for forming a bipolar/MEA assembly;
- and
- combining the bipolar/MEA assembly with a fuel container.
6 more elements
A flat panel direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) comprising:
- an integrated cathode electrode sheet comprising a first substrate, a plurality of cathode electrode areas, a first conductive via through hole, wherein the cathode electrode areas are electroplated on both the front and the backside of the first substrate and have a plurality of apertures therein, wherein the first conductive via through hole is disposed outside the cathode electrode areas and is electronically connected to the respective cathode electrode areas with a conductive wire;
- a plurality of proton exchange membranes corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas;
- an intermediate bonding layer comprising at least one bonding sheet, wherein the intermediate bonding layer comprises a plurality of openings for respectively accommodating the plurality of proton exchange membranes, and a second conductive via through hole that is aligned with the first conductive via through hole;
- an integrated anode electrode sheet comprising a second substrate, a plurality of anode electrode areas disposed corresponding to the plurality of cathode electrode areas, and a third conductive via through hole corresponding to the first conductive via through hole, wherein the integrated cathode electrode sheet, the plurality of proton exchange membranes, the intermediate bonding layer, and the integrate anode electrode sheet are stacked in order;
- a metal plug aligning and conducting the first conductive via through hole, the second conductive via through hole, and the third conductive via through hole;
- and
- a fuel container.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.