Back to results
US 2014/0234745 A1Published application
Enhanced bonding in fuel cells
AssigneesIntelligent Energy Limited, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsPaul Sobejko, Shinichiro Imura, David Lo, Goro Fujita, Takashi Yasuo, Alexey Demykin, Robert J. Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and articles relating to enhanced bonding of layers in a planar fuel cell. A planar fuel cell having a composite layer is bonded to an outer layer (e.g., a fuel or fluid manifold) using intrusions that extend through an electrolyte layer and into an underlying layer (e.g., a substrate component or a current-collector component).
Claims31
A planar fuel cell assembly comprising:
- a composite layer that includes a plurality of interconnect components and a plurality of ion-conducting components;
- a plurality of electrode components disposed on a first side and a second side of the composite layer, the electrode components including a plurality of anode components and a plurality of cathode components, wherein the first side is opposite the second side;
- at least one intrusion formed in the first side of the composite layer, the at least one intrusion extending completely through a first electrode component and partly through the interconnect component underlying the first electrode component;
- a first bonding component disposed in the at least one intrusion and contacting the first electrode component and the interconnect component underlying the first electrode component;
- and
- a fluid manifold disposed over the at least one intrusion and bonded to the composite layer by the first bonding component.
3 more elements
A method of making a planar fuel cell assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a composite layer that includes
- a plurality of interconnect components, and
- a plurality of electrode components disposed on a first side and a second side of the composite layer, the electrode components including anode components and cathode components and wherein the first side is opposite the second side;
- forming at least one intrusion in the first side of the composite layer, the at least one intrusion extending completely through a first electrode component and partly through the interconnect component underlying the first electrode component;
- depositing a first bonding material in the at least one intrusion, the first bonding material contacting both the first electrode component and the interconnect component underlying the first electrode component;
- and
- bonding a fluid manifold over the at least one intrusion, wherein the fluid manifold is bonded to the first side of the composite layer by the first bonding material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.