Micro-machined fuel cells
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsRaj B. Apte, David G. Duff, Christian G. Van de Walle, Jeng Ping Lu, Alberto Salleo, Stephen D. White
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Abstract
An improved fuel cell is described. The invention addresses the problem of mechanical failure in thin electrolytes. One embodiment varies the thickness of the electrolyte and positions at least either the anode or cathode in the recessed region to provide a short travel distance for ions traveling from the anode to the cathode or from the cathode to the anode. A second embodiment uses a uniquely shaped manifold cover to allow close positioning of the anode to the cathode. Using the described structures results in a substantial improvement in fuel cell reliability and performance.
Claims18
A fuel cell comprising:
- an electrolyte having a first side;
- a manifold cover that is coupled to the electrolyte to form two manifolds, a first manifold including an anode, a second manifold including a cathode, the two manifolds both on the first side of the electrolyte, the anode and the cathode also on the first side of the electrolyte and configured to cause ions to conduct such that the predominant ion flow is between the anode on the first side of the electrolyte and the cathode on the first side of the electrolyte.
A fuel cell comprising:
- an electrolyte having a first side;
- a manifold cover that is coupled to the electrolyte to form two manifolds including a first manifold and a second manifold, the first manifold including an anode, the second manifold including a cathode, the two manifolds both on the first side of the electrolyte, the first manifold formed from a first indentation in the first side of the electrolyte and the second manifold formed from a second indentation in the first side of the electrolyte, the anode and cathode formed such that a bend in the anode is approximately equal to or greater than 90 degrees but is less than 180 degrees and a corresponding bend in the cathode is approximately equal to or greater than 90 degrees but is less than 180 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.