Direct-alcohol fuel-cell stack and corresponding method of fabrication
AssigneeC.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
InventorsGianluca Bollito, Piero Perlo, Mauro Sgroi, Gianfranco Innocenti
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Abstract
Described herein is a fuel-cell stack, which comprises a plurality of direct-alcohol fuel cells electrically connected together. Each cell has a miniaturized structure comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte set between the first electrode and the second electrode, means for conducting electrical current to the first electrode, and means for conducting electrical current to the second electrode. The miniaturized structure of each cell is made up of a plurality of layers set on top of one another, and the various miniaturized structures are associated in an unremovable way to a flexible substrate capable of being wound up in a roll.
Claims24
A fuel-cell stack comprising a plurality of direct-alcohol fuel cells;
- each cell having a structure comprising:
- a first electrode;
- a second electrode;
- an electrolyte arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- means for conducting electrical current to the first electrode and the second electrode;
- wherein the entire structure of each cell is miniaturized and is made of superimposed layers;
- wherein the entire structure of each of the plurality of cells of the stack is associated in an irremovable way to a single flexible substrate;
- wherein a first duct is also associated in an irremovable way to the single flexible substrate, the duct being connected to the plurality of cells for supplying them with fuel, wherein the duct also connects the fuel cells to each other;
- and
- wherein a second duct is also associated in an irremovable way to said single flexible substrate, said second duct being connected to the plurality of cells configured to empty water from each cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.