Membraneless direct-type fuel cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019173116-A1
Application number	US-201616323300-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 5, 2016
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Jun 6, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a membraneless direct-type fuel cell, which directly uses oxidizable phosphorus compound, sulphur compound or nitrogen compound as fuel.

First claim

1 . A membraneless direct-type fuel cell comprising:
(i) An anode configured and arranged for electro-oxidizing a reductant being an oxidizable compound selected from a group consisting of phosphorus compound, sulphur compound, nitrogen compound and any combination thereof, (ii) A cathode configured and arranged for electro-reducing an oxidant, (iii) A solvent, (iv) Optionally an electrolyte, wherein the anode and cathode are spaced apart and the reductant and oxidant freely communicate between the anode and cathode.

2 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the oxidizable phosphorus compound is hypophosphorous acid compound or phosphorous acid compound.

3 . The fuel cell according to claim 2 , wherein the hypophosphorous acid compound is selected from a group consisting of hypophosphorous acid, its alkali metal salts, its alkaline earth metal salts, its ammonium salt and any combination thereof; or wherein the phosphorous acid compound is selected from a group consisting of phosphorous acid, its alkali metal salts, its alkaline earth metal salts, its ammonium salt and any combination thereof.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the oxidizable sulphur compound is sulphurous acid compound or thiosulfuric acid compound.

6 . The fuel cell according to claim 5 , wherein the sulphurous acid compound is selected from a group consisting of sulphurous acid, its alkali metal salts, its alkaline earth metal salts, its ammonium salt and any combination thereof; or wherein the thiosulfuric acid compound is selected from a group consisting of thiosulfuric acid, its alkali metal salts, its alkaline earth metal salts, its ammonium salt and any combination thereof.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the oxidizable nitrogen compound is an amine or is selected from a group consisting of nitrous acid, its alkali metal salts, its alkaline earth metal salts, its ammonium salt and any combination thereof.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein electrode catalyst for anode or cathode comprises metal element selected from a group consisting of (i) Transition metals, (ii) Lanthanides, (iii) Actinides, (iv) Elements of Groups IA, IIA, IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA of Periodic Table and (v) Any combination thereof; or comprises non-metal element selected from a group consisting of elements of Groups IA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA of Periodic Table and any combination thereof.

11 . The fuel cell according to claim 10 , wherein the metal element comprised in anode or cathode is in the form of elemental metal, metal alloy, metal oxide or metal complex.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein anode catalyst comprises an element selected from a group consisting of elements of Groups IIIA, IVA, VA of Periodic Table and Transition metals.

14 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein anode catalyst comprises an element selected from a group consisting of Pd, Pt, Ru, Ir, Au, Rh, Bi, B or Sn and any combination thereof.

15 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein cathode catalyst comprises an element selected from a group consisting of elements of Groups IA, IIA, IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA of Periodic Table, Transition metals and Lanthanides.

16 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein cathode catalyst comprises an element selected from a group consisting of Ag, Ni, Ru, Ir, Os, Mn, La, Co, Ce and any combination thereof; or comprises oxide selected from a group consisting of MnO 2 , RuO 2 , CeO 2 , Eu 2 O 3 , Sm 2 O 3 , CoO, Co 3 O 4 , LaNiO 3 , LaCoO 3 and any combination thereof.

17 . (canceled)

18 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein at least 20 wt % reductant contact the cathode based on total weight of reductant employed or wherein at least 20 wt % oxidant contact the cathode based on total weight of oxidant employed.

19 . The fuel cell according to claim 18 , wherein reductant contacting the cathode is comprised between 20 wt % and 80 wt % based on total weight of reductant employed or wherein oxidant contacting the cathode is comprised between 20 wt % and 80 wt % based on total weight of oxidant employed.

20 . (canceled)

21 . (canceled)

22 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of reductant in solution is preferably comprised between 0.01 M and 12 M.

23 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein electrode catalyst is applied to a support.

24 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the loading of electrode catalyst on substrate is comprised between 0.01 and 500 mg/cm −2 .

25 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the two electrodes is comprised between 0.1 cm and 10 cm.

26 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein a separator is placed between the anode and cathode.

27 . The fuel cell according to claim 26 , wherein the separator is selected from a group consisting of fibers, polymers and naturally occurring substances.

Assignees

• Rhodia Operations
• Univ Fudan

Inventors

• Wu Mengjia
• Metivier Pascal
• Xia Yongyao

Classifications

• H01M8/1032

  having sulfur, e.g. sulfonated-polyethersulfones [S-PES] · CPC title

• H01M8/103

  having nitrogen, e.g. sulfonated polybenzimidazoles [S-PBI], polybenzimidazoles with phosphoric acid, sulfonated polyamides [S-PA] or sulfonated polyphosphazenes [S-PPh] · CPC title

• H01M8/1009

  with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/22

  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen · CPC title

• H01M8/18 Primary

  Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells · CPC title