Fuel cell components and systems having carbon-containing electrically-conductive hollow fibers

A system, comprising:

• a structure, having an ionically-conductive, electrically-resistive electrolyte/separator layer covering an inner or outer surface of a carbonized hollow fiber, a first catalyst coupled to the hollow fiber, and a second catalyst coupled to the hollow fiber on an opposite side of the hollow fiber as the first catalyst, wherein a first surface of the hollow fiber is sulfonated, wherein a second surface of the hollow fiber is fluorinated;
• an anode extending along at least part of a length of the structure;
• a cathode extending along at least part of the length of the structure, the cathode being on an opposite side of the hollow fiber as the anode;
• and
• a support structure coupled to each end of the structure.

A system, comprising:

• a structure comprising:
• a hollow fiber;
• an electrolyte/separator polymer layer covering at least part of either an inner surface of the hollow fiber or an outer surface of the hollow fiber;
• and
• a first catalyst coupled to the hollow fiber;
• a support structure coupled to each end of the structure;
• a second catalyst coupled to the hollow fiber;
• an anode extending along at least part of a length of the inner surface of the hollow fiber, and oriented along a longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber;
• a solid state fuel positioned near the anode;
• a cathode extending along at least part of a length of the outer surface of the hollow fiber, and oriented along a longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber;
• a bus extending along an inner surface of the hollow fiber and oriented along a longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber;
• and
• a fuel tank in fluid communication with the anode,
• wherein the hollow fiber is positioned between the anode and the cathode,
• wherein the electrolyte/separator polymer layer is positioned between the first catalyst and the second catalyst,
• wherein the electrolyte/separator polymer layer is electrically-resistive,
• wherein the electrolyte/separator polymer layer is ionically-conductive,
• wherein the hollow fiber is electrically-conductive,
• wherein the hollow fiber is carbonized,
• wherein the hollow fiber comprises at least 95% carbon,
• wherein the hollow fiber is porous,
• wherein an opposite surface of the hollow fiber relative to the electrolyte/separator polymer layer is either fluorinated or sulfonated,
• wherein the hollow fiber is also either fluorinated or sulfonated interstitially adjacent the opposite surface,
• wherein the structure is either cationically or anionically conductive,
• wherein each of the first catalyst and the second catalyst are arranged as either a thin film or a plurality of particles,
• wherein each of the first catalyst and the second catalyst comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), and platinum-ruthenium (PtRu), and
• wherein the hollow fiber is characterized by a pore diameter of about 20 nm at an interface between the cathode and a hollow fiber wall facing the cathode.