# US 7,745,064 B2 · Oxidation facilitator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,064 B2 - Document ID: US7745064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/294,676 - Filed: 2005-12-05 - Published: 2007-03-01 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-10 - Assignees: CellTech Power LLC - Inventors: Adam P. Blake; Scott C. Rackey; Wei Bai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745064B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 4/86: Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells - H01M 4/8626: {characterised by the form} - H01M 4/90: Selection of catalytic material - H01M 4/905: {specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC} - H01M 8/0217: Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type AMO3, A being an alkaline earth metal or rare earth metal and M being a metal, e.g. perovskites - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - H01M 8/1213: characterised by the electrode/electrolyte combination or the supporting material - H01M 8/124: characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte - H01M 8/20: Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible (H01M8/18 takes precedence) - H01M 4/9033: {Complex oxides, optionally doped, of the type M1MeO3, M1 being an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth, Me being a metal, e.g. perovskites} - H01M 8/1253: the electrolyte containing zirconium oxide - H01M 2004/8684: {Negative electrodes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Fuel oxidation facilitators for use in electrochemical devices are described, as well as devices incorporating facilitators and methods of their use. Exemplary facilitators separate a liquid anode of a fuel cell from fuel supplied to the fuel cell, and facilitate oxidation of the fuel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell, comprising: an anode compartment constructed and arranged to contain an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell; a fuel compartment attachable to a source of fuel for the fuel cell; and a porous ceramic oxide layer, constructed and arranged to prevent fluid flow between the anode compartment and the fuel compartment, across which anodic oxidation of a fuel provided by the fuel compartment can occur during fuel cell operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least a portion physically separating a fuel in the fuel compartment from the anode in the anode compartment during fuel cell operation, across which portion fuel oxidation can occur. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A fuel cell as in claim 2, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer physically completely separates the fuel from the anode during fuel cell operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least one pore of dimension allowing physical contact between a fuel in the fuel compartment and the anode in the anode compartment under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A fuel cell as in claim 4, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes a section separating the fuel and the anode, essentially the entire section comprising a porous article including pores of dimension allowing physical contact between the fuel and the anode under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A fuel cell as in claim 4, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least a portion physically separating the fuel from the anode during fuel cell operation, across which portion fuel oxidation can occur. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer defines a portion of the anode compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A fuel cell as in claim 7, constructed and arranged such that the porous ceramic oxide layer, at least one portion thereof, is the sole fuel cell component separating the anode in the anode compartment from a fuel provided in the fuel compartment by the fuel manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer defines a portion of the fuel manifold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A fuel cell as in claim 9, constructed and arranged such that the porous ceramic oxide layer, at least one portion thereof, is the sole fuel cell component separating the anode in the anode compartment from a fuel provided in the fuel compartment by the fuel manifold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1 wherein a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer comprises a mixed ion/electron conductor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer includes at least one ionically-conductive portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, further comprising a fuel, a substantial portion of which is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the fuel manifold includes or is connected to an exhaust conduit and the cell further comprises a fuel delivery conduit having an exit for delivery of fuel at an end of the fuel manifold substantially opposite the exhaust end. ### Claim 17 A fuel cell, comprising: an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell; a fuel manifold attachable to a source of fuel for the cell; and a porous ceramic oxide layer across which, at a location where the anode is physically separated from a fuel provided by the manifold, oxidation of the fuel via the anode can occur during fuel cell operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas and a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A fuel cell as in claim 18, wherein a substantial portion of the anode is a liquid metal under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein a substantial portion of the fuel is a gas under operating conditions of the fuel cell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the porous ceramic oxide layer comprises a mixed ion/electron conductor. ### Claim 23 A fuel cell, comprising: an anode that is a liquid metal during operation of the fuel cell; a fuel manifold attachable to a source of fuel for the cell; and a porous ceramic oxide layer across which, at a location where the anode is physically separated from a fuel provided by the manifold, oxidation of the fuel by the anode can occur during fuel cell operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the anode comprises tin. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A fuel cell as in claim 1, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the anode comprises of tin. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) A fuel cell as in claim 17, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) A fuel cell as in claim 23, wherein the anode comprises of tin. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) A fuel cell as in claim 23, wherein the anode consists essentially of tin.