Angstrom Power Incorporated

Societe Bic

Intelligent Energy Inc.

Anna Stukas

Gerard Francis McLean

Jeremy Schrooten

Tran Ngo

Ned Djilali

Olen Richard Vanderleeden

Jean-Louis Iaconis

Denis J Connor

Martin Lagroix

Gerard Francis Mclean

The present invention relates to electrically conductive paths in planar substrates. Various embodiments provide a method of forming one or more electrically conductive paths in a planar substrate, wherein substantially none of the substrate is removed during formation of the path. In various embodiments, by avoiding the removal of substrate during formation of the electrically conductive path, problems caused by residual substrate material can be advantageously avoided. In various embodiments, the planar substrate with the electrically conductive path can be used to make a planar fuel cell array.

Methods of forming fuel cell layers

Portable electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like may obtain power from fuel cells that consume fuel from fuel reservoirs of the portable devices. A network of fueling stations permits users of portable devices to main the devices operational by frequently topping up the fuel reservoirs. Payment systems combine payments for fuel with larger payments for other transactions to avoid the overhead of processing individual payments for very small amounts.

Replenishing fuel cell powered portable devices

An electrochemical cell structure has an electrical current-carrying structure which, at least in part, underlies an electrochemical reaction layer. The cell comprises an ion exchange membrane with a catalyst layer on each side thereof. The ion exchange membrane may comprise, for example, a proton exchange membrane. Some embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical cell layers which have a plurality of individual unit cells formed on a sheet of ion exchange membrane material.

Electrochemical cells having current-carrying structures underlying electrochemical reaction layers

One aspect of the invention provides an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Membranes and electrochemical cells incorporating such membranes

A fuel cell has an ion-conducting membrane comprising an ion-conducting region and a non-ion-conducting region. The ion-conducting region is formed by a plurality of ion-conducting passageways that extend through the membrane. The passageways are filled with ion-conducting material and may be surrounded by non-ion conducting material. The membrane may comprise a substrate of non-ion-conducting material that is penetrated by openings, each opening providing a corresponding one of the passageways.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Anna Stukas