A direct alcohol fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022029187-A1
Application number	US-201917299032-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2019
Priority date	Dec 6, 2018
Publication date	Jan 27, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a direct alcohol fuel cell comprising a housing containing a proton exchange membrane (PEM) separating an anode section from a cathode section, which anode section and which cathode section are contained in the housing, the cathode section comprising a cathode collection element having one or more ventilation holes, which cathode collection element is electrically connected to a cathode catalyst, which cathode catalyst is in diffusive communication with a gaseous oxidant, and the anode section comprising an anode collection element electrically connected to an anode catalyst, the DAFC comprising an oleophobic filter covering the ventilation hole(s). The oleophobic filter may be held in place using any appropriate means as desired. The fuel cell is suited for a microelectronic device.

First claim

1 . A direct alcohol fuel cell comprising a housing containing a proton exchange membrane separating an anode section from a cathode section, which anode section and which cathode section are contained in the housing,
the cathode section comprising a cathode collection element having one or more ventilation holes, which cathode collection element is electrically connected to a cathode catalyst, which cathode catalyst is in diffusive communication with a gaseous oxidant, and the anode section comprising an anode collection element electrically connected to an anode catalyst, the DAFC comprising an oleophobic filter covering the ventilation hole(s).

2 . The DAFC according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophobic filter comprises an opening aligned with one of the ventilation holes.

3 . The DAFC according to claim 1 , wherein the DAFC further comprises a weld plate having one or more ventilation holes, which weld plate is welded to the housing to enclose the PEM, the anode section and the cathode section.

4 . The DAFC according to claim 1 , wherein the weld follows the perimeter of the housing.

5 . The DAFC according to claim 1 , wherein the DAFC comprises a microfilter with a pore size in the range of 0.1 μm to 25 μm, which microfilter covers the ventilation hole(s).

6 . A microelectronic device comprising a DAFC according to claim 1 .

7 . A method of operating a DAFC, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a DAFC according to claim 1 ; supplying a fuel comprising an aqueous solution of methanol at a concentration of at least 10 M to the DAFC.

Assignees

• Widex As

Inventors

• Lund-Olesen Torsten
• Valnert Boris
• Vestentoft Kasper
• Tynelius Oskar
• Bonde Jacob Lindner
• Hales Jan Harry
• Christensen Leif Hoejslet

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M2250/00

  Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system · CPC title

• H01M8/1011

  Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC] · CPC title

• H01M8/1013 Primary

  Other direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC] · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title