Shape- and size-controlled supported metal and intermetallic nanocrystallites are of increasing interest because of their catalytic and electrocatalytic properties. In particular, intermetallics PtX (X 5 Bi, Pb, Pd, Ru) are very attractive because of their high activity as fuel-cell anode catalysts for formic acid or methanol oxidation. These are normally synthesized using high-temperature techniques, but rigorous size control is very challenging. Even low-temperature techniques typically produce nanoparticles with dimensions much greater than the optimum <6 nm required for fuel cell catalysis. Here, we present a simple and robust, chemically controlled process for synthesizing size-controlled noble metal or bimetallic nanocrystallites embedded within the porous structure of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). By using surface-modified ordered mesoporous carbon to trap the metal precursors, nanocrystallites are formed with monodisperse sizes as low as 1.5 nm, which can be tuned up to ∼3.5 nm. To the best of our knowledge, 3-nm ordered mesoporous carbon-supported PtBi nanoparticles exhibit the highest mass activity for formic acid oxidation reported to date, and over double that of Pt–Au.

Nanocrystalline intermetallics on mesoporous carbon for direct formic acid fuel cell anodes

Es wird ein Brennstoffzellenstapel mit Zelleneinheiten bereitgestellt, die eine Sammelleitung, eine offene Endplatte, die an einer Seite der Zelleneinheiten angeordnet ist und einen Reaktionsgaseinlass und -auslass hat, die mit der Sammelleitung verbunden sind, und eine geschlossene Endplatte enthalten, die an der an der anderen Seite der Zelleneinheiten angeordnet ist und die Sammelleitung abschliest. Insbesondere enthalt die Endplatte eine erste schrage Oberflache, die die Stromung eines Reaktionsgases am Reaktionsgaseinlass und an der Sammelleitungs-Schnittstelle regelt. Ein erster Ausrichtungsvorsprung bildet die erste schrage Oberflache und richtet die Zelleneinheiten aus, und die geschlossene Endplatte enthalt eine zweite schrage Oberflache, die die Stromung des Reaktionsgases an der Sammelleitungs-Schnittstelle regelt. Auserdem bildet ein zweiter Ausrichtungsvorsprung die zweite schrage Oberflache und richtet die Zelleneinheiten entsprechend aus.

Fuel cell stack

Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.

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Direct methanol feed fuel cell and system

The present invention is directed to nanowire structures and interconnected nanowire networks comprising such structures, as well as methods for their production. The nanowire structures comprise a nanowire core, a carbon-based layer, and in additional embodiments, carbon-based structures such as nanographitic plates consisting of graphenes formed on the nanowire cores, interconnecting the nanowire structures in the networks. The networks are porous structures that can be formed into membranes or particles. The nanowire structures and the networks formed using them are useful in catalyst and electrode applications, including fuel cells, as well as field emission devices, support substrates and chromatographic applications.

Nanowire structures comprising carbon

The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires

Nanowire-based membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells

A methanol fuel cell wherein a positive electrode (2) and a negative electrode (1) are disposed in contact with a solid film (3) which exhibits a hydrogen ion- and/ or hydronium ion-conductivity. The methanol permeability coefficient of the solid film (3) of the methanol fuel cell is at most 1 x 10-6 mol/mol/l).min.cm2.

Methanol fuel cell

In a fuel cell having a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and an electrolyte which is located between both the electrodes, a methanol concentration control device is disposed, at a pipe which supplies the fuel to the fuel cell for controlling the amount of the methanol in the pipe by detecting the open-circuit voltage of the unit cell or the open-circuit potential of the oxidant cell at the methanol concentration control device.

Fuel cell comprising a device for detecting the concentration of methanol

A fuel cell electrode having a catalyst layer comprising electroconductive particles carrying a catalytically active component and a binder on a water-repellent baked plate comprising a carbon paper comprising carbon fiber and an organic binder and polytetrafluoroethylene infiltrated into voids of said carbon paper, characterized in that the carbon fiber of said baked plate has at least 20 cutting edges per square millimeter, and said polytetrafluoroethylene is infiltrated into at least one of said cutting edges to render the plate flexible.

Flexible, water-repellent baked carbon plate, its production, fuel cell electrode, fuel cell electrode plate and its production and fuel cell

This invention is a fuel element for liquid fuel cell characterized in that a liquid fuel is rendered to assume a non-fluidized state by either physical means or chemical means, and is returned back to the initial liquid fuel at any time by physical means or chemical means.

Fuel element for liquid fuel cell and a liquid fuel cell

A molten carbonate fuel cell using molten carbonate as an electrolyte, carbonate ions as electric conductor, and feeding a hydrogen-enriched gas to the anode and a mixture of air and carbon dioxide gas to the cathode has its output fall by degrees with operation. It is surmised that one of the causes of this problem is ascribable to the fact that the molten carbonate electrolyte moves during operation to destroy equilibrium in the boundary between the electrolyte and electrodes. After studies for measures against the problem, the inventor found that the output of a fuel cell which has fallen can be improved by shutting off part or all of the raaction gases or reducing their feed for a while, and then restoring. The purpose of the present invention is to offer a high-performance stable-output molten carbonate fuel cell and its operation control method, incorporating the above findings in its operation control system.

Kazuo Iwamoto

Papers

Methanol fuel cell

Fuel cell comprising a device for detecting the concentration of methanol

Flexible, water-repellent baked carbon plate, its production, fuel cell electrode, fuel cell electrode plate and its production and fuel cell

Fuel element for liquid fuel cell and a liquid fuel cell

Molten carbonate fuel cell, and its operation control method