# US 9,882,228 B2 · Air-breathing fuel cell and cell stack for the oxidation of ions using oxygen

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- Number: US 9,882,228 B2
- Document ID: US9882228B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/127,002
- Filed: 2012-07-13
- Published: 2014-12-25
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13
- Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
- Applicants: Jens Noack; Thomas Berger; Jens Tuebke; Karsten Pinkwart
- Inventors: Jens Noack; Thomas Berger; Jens Tuebke; Karsten Pinkwart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882228B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04186: of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- H01M 8/0234: Carbonaceous material
- H01M 8/0444: Concentration; Density (H01M8/04492 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/188: {by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries}
- H01M 8/20: Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible (H01M8/18 takes precedence)
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- 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

## Abstract

The invention describes an air-breathing fuel cell for the oxidation of ions with air or oxygen, having an anode half cell and a cathode half cell. A first ion-conducting membrane and a second ion-conducting membrane is introduced between the half cells, and the second ion-conducting membrane is coated at least in regions on the side orientated towards the cathode half cell with a catalyst for the reduction of oxygen. According to the invention, the air-breathing fuel cell is characterised in that an oxidation zone for the oxidation of ions with negative standard electrode potential is provided between the ion-conducting membranes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air-breathing fuel cell for the oxidation of ions with air or oxygen, having an anode half cell and a cathode half cell, a first ion-conducting membrane and a second ion-conducting membrane being introduced between the half cells, and the second ion-conducting membrane being coated at least in regions on the side orientated towards the cathode half cell with a catalyst for the reduction of oxygen,
wherein an oxidation zone for the oxidation of ions with negative standard electrode potential is provided between the ion-conducting membranes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein ions are contained in the anode half cell, ions selected from the group consisting of V2+, U3+, Ti3+, Ti2+, In2+, In+, Cr2+, Eu2+, S2O62−, S2O42−, S2O3−, H2PO2−, HPO32−, SO32−, BH4−, Sn2+, HsnO2−, AsO2−, SbO2−.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein an oxidant, oxygen and/or air, is contained in the cathode half cell and/or in the oxidation zone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing cell according to claim 1, wherein the anode half cell comprises a carbon plate and a porous carbon material, a graphite felt, the porous carbon material contacting the carbon plate and the first ion-conducting membrane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode half cell comprises a carbon plate and a gas diffusion layer consisting of carbon, the gas diffusion layer consisting of carbon contacting the carbon plate and the second ion-conducting membrane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation zone comprises
a) an acidic solution, sulphuric acid and/or phosphoric acid; or
b) a basic solution, sodium hydroxide solution and/or potassium hydroxide solution; or
c) a neutral salt solution, sodium chloride and/or potassium chloride.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation zone comprises a porous auxiliary electrode which has a standard electrode potential which enables the oxidation of the ions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of noble metals, in particular platinum, ruthenium, palladium and rhodium, and also the alloys thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation zone is connected to a detector via a supply line and discharge line and/or comprises a detector, the detector being suitable for determining the type and concentration of reduction agent in the oxidation zone and is a UV/VIS spectrometer and/or a voltage measuring device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A cell stack made of more than one air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A use of the air-breathing fuel cell according to claim 1 as a battery.