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US 8,795,919 B2Granted
Fuel cell layer
AssigneeSociete BIC & Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsGoro Fujita, Erin Cooney, James Alexander Sawada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
MEAs are formed in regions corresponding to openings provided in a substrate. Each MEA includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode catalyst layer, and a cathode catalyst layer. The substrate has a first gas-impermeable region and a second gas-impermeable region between adjacent MEAs. A third gas-impermeable region is provided between the first gas-impermeable region and the second gas-impermeable region. The third gas-impermeable region having conductive property constitutes a part of interconnector.
Claims12
A fuel cell layer, comprising:
- a composite layer having a first surface and a second surface, the composite layer comprising
- a plurality of interconnectors;
- and
- a plurality of ion conducting components, positioned between the interconnectors;
- a first plurality of electrode coatings disposed on the first surface to form anodes;
- and
- a second plurality of electrode coatings disposed on the second surface to form cathodes, each of the first and second plurality of electrode coatings in ionic contact with one of the ion conducting components and in electrical contact with one of the interconnectors,
- at least one of the interconnectors comprising a first gas-impermeable interface region and a second gas-impermeable interface region each comprising a dielectric material independently comprising glass fibers, an additive, or a combination thereof, wherein the additive is at least one of laser-scattering and laser-absorbing, wherein at least one of the glass fibers and the additive are configured to at least partially block the transmission of a laser beam through the dielectric material, wherein the first gas-impermeable interface region and the second gas-impermeable interface region each has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface in contact with one of the ion conducting components;
- and
- a third gas-impermeable region that is electrically conductive having two surfaces and a length parallel to the two surfaces, one of the surfaces disposed adjacent to the second surface of the first and second gas-impermeable interface regions;
- wherein the interconnector and the third gas-impermeable region electrically connect the anode of one fuel cell to the cathode of an adjacent fuel cell.
8 more elements
A method of making a fuel cell layer comprising:
- forming a composite layer having a first surface and a second surface, the composite layer comprising
- a plurality of interconnectors;
- and
- a plurality of ion conducting components, positioned between the interconnectors;
- disposing a first plurality of electrode coatings on the first surface to form anodes;
- and
- disposing a second plurality of electrode coatings on the second surface to form cathodes, each of the first and second plurality of electrode coatings in ionic contact with one of the ion conducting components and in electrical contact with one of the interconnectors,
- wherein at least one of the interconnectors comprises
- a first gas-impermeable interface region and a second gas-impermeable interface region each comprising a dielectric material independently comprising glass fibers, an additive, or a combination thereof, wherein the additive is at least one of laser-scattering and laser-absorbing, wherein at least one of the glass fibers and the additive are configured to at least partially block the transmission of a laser beam through the dielectric material, wherein the first gas-impermeable interface region and the second gas-impermeable interface region each has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface in contact with one of the ion conducting components;
- and
- a third gas-impermeable region that is electrically conductive having two surfaces and a length parallel to the two surfaces, one of the surfaces disposed adjacent to the second surface of the first and second gas-impermeable interface regions;
- wherein the interconnector and the third gas-impermeable region electrically connect the anode of one fuel cell to the cathode of an adjacent fuel cell, and wherein a transmission factor of the first and the second gas-impermeable regions is smaller than that in the first and second plurality of electrode coatings with respect to transmission of laser beam used in processing a catalyst layer;
- and
- selectively removing portions of the electrode coatings in line with the first and second gas-impermeable regions using a laser beam sufficient to provide electrical isolation between adjacent fuel cells.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.