Fuel Cells and Method of Manufacturing

    公开(公告)号:US20210351414A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-11-11

    申请号:US17202145

    申请日:2021-03-15

    Abstract: An innovative fuel cell system with membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer (GDL) made of porous metal foam, and a catalyst layer. A fuel cell has a metal foam layer that improves efficiency and lifetime of the conventional gas diffusion layer, which consists of both gas diffusion barrier (GDB) and microporous layer (MPL). This metal foam GDL enables consistent maintenance of the suitable structure and even distribution of pores during the operation. Due to the combination of mechanical and physical properties of metallic foam, the fuel cell is not deformed by external physical strain. Among many other processing methods of open-cell metal foams, ice-templating provides a cheap, easy processing route suitable for mass production. Furthermore, it provides well-aligned and long channel pores, which improve gas and water flow during the operation of the fuel cell.

    Fabrication of Open-Porous Titanium Foam Using Space-Holder Process for Use in Load-Bearing Applications

    公开(公告)号:US20230191483A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-06-22

    申请号:US17996073

    申请日:2021-04-16

    Abstract: A sodium-chloride-space-holder process with two-step heat treatment is used to create an open-porous metal foam (e.g., titanium foam) with a high porosity of about 70 to 90 percent for use in load-bearing applications. A mechanically reliable titanium foam is manufactured using a space-holder method containing two-step heat treatment where a sodium chloride powder is first sieved for desired pore size range, mixed with titanium powder, and compacted under pressure at high temperature. An additional heat treatment is applied to further strengthen the chemical bonding between the titanium particles after the removal of sodium chloride in water to create pores. This process uses a pneumatic pressing machine in combination with a furnace under an argon gas to simultaneously apply both the pressure and temperature. The resulting titanium foam is chemically well bonded and has enhanced durability for proper used in structural applications.

    Gas Sensor Device Based on Metal Oxide Foam

    公开(公告)号:US20220155247A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-19

    申请号:US17441198

    申请日:2020-03-26

    Abstract: A gas sensing device is manufactured with three dimensionally connected metal oxide foam structure of large surface area and elongated channel pores within the three-dimensional porous structure for gas sensing applications, thereby increasing the surface area of the sensing layer and expediting sensitivity and sensor response. A gas sensor device includes the fabricated metal-oxide-foam sensing material attached via silver paste to platinum electrodes and ruthenium heater that are printed on low temperature co-fired ceramic substrate. This device will provide improved gas sensing performance with improved sensitivity and response time. Gas sensors including the metal oxide foam sensing material exhibit higher sensitivity to toxic gases such as ethanol and carbon monoxide due to the large surface area achieved from the porous three-dimensional structure providing increased chemical reaction sites and the larger porous channels allowing gases to easily pass, shortening the gas diffusion reaction path.

    Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Porous Electrode

    公开(公告)号:US20210178471A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-06-17

    申请号:US17165832

    申请日:2021-02-02

    Abstract: An electrode for the use of an advanced lithium battery is fabricated using three-dimensionally structured metal foam coated with an active material. The metal foam is porous metal foam that can be used as an anode current collector of a lithium-ion battery and is coated with an anode active material, such as tin, through a sonication-assisted electroless plating method. Additionally, the coated metal foam is heat-treated at an appropriate temperature in order to improve the integrity of the coating layer and hence, the cyclic performance of the lithium-ion battery.

    Fuel cells and method of manufacturing

    公开(公告)号:US10978715B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-13

    申请号:US13930887

    申请日:2013-06-28

    Abstract: An innovative fuel cell system with MEAs includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion layer (GDL) made of porous metal foam, and a catalyst layer. A fuel cell has a metal foam layer that improves efficiency and lifetime of the conventional gas diffusion layer, which consists of both gas diffusion barrier (GDB) and microporous layer (MPL). This metal foam GDL enables consistent maintenance of the suitable structure and even distribution of pores during the operation. Due to the combination of mechanical and physical properties of metallic foam, the fuel cell is not deformed by external physical strain. Among many other processing methods of open-cell metal foams, ice-templating provides a cheap, easy processing route suitable for mass production. Furthermore, it provides well-aligned and long channel pores, which improve gas and water flow during the operation of the fuel cell.

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