Fuel cell using organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsTsutomu Tsukui, Toshio Shimizu, Ryota Doi, Yasuyuki Tsutsumi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a fuel cell using as an electrolyte an organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte. The fuel cell of the present invention can prevent the leakage of an electrolyte from an electrolyte chamber so that an electrical short-circuit between an anode and a cathode can be avoided. Moreover, use of the disclosed electrolytes permits the fuel to be fed to the fuel chamber by itself or in admixture with water, but without being mixed with electrolyte.
Claims26
A fuel cell, adapted to be operated at a temperature of from room temperature to about 100.degree. C., comprising:
- (a) a fuel electrode placed so that a fuel in a fuel chamber is in contact therewith,
- (b) an oxidizer electrode placed so that an oxidizer in an oxidant chamber is in contact therewith, and
- (c) an electrolyte between said fuel electrode and said oxidizer electrode, the electrodes facing each other via said electrolyte, wherein said electrolyte is an organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte having a molecular weight of at least 1000, which electrolyte is at least partially soluble in water thereby to generate low-molecular weight ions and high-molecular weight ions being separated from each other in water, said ions being hardly permeable through the electrodes, whereby leakage of the electrolyte from between the electrodes can be avoided.
A fuel cell, adapted to operate at a temperature from room temperature to about 100.degree. C., comprising:
- (a) a fuel electrode adapted to be placed in contact with a fuel in a fuel chamber,
- (b) an oxidizer electrode adapted to be placed so that an oxidizer gas in an oxidant chamber is in contact therewith, and
- (c) an electrolyte between said fuel electrode and said oxidizer electrode, said electrodes facing each other via the electrolyte, wherein said electrolyte is an organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte having a molecular weight sufficiently high such that said organic, high-molecular weight electrolyte does not leak out from between the electrodes, which high-molecular weight electrolyte is at least partially soluble in water thereby to generate low-molecular weight ions and high-molecular weight ions being separated from each other in water, said ions being hardly permeable through the electrodes, whereby electric energy is generated as a result of electrochemical reaction at the electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.