Plug Power Inc.

Giner, Inc.

Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC

Cortney K Mittelsteadt

Anthony B LaConti

Robert Stone

Han Liu

Monjid Hamdan

Matthew Weaver

William A Braff

Hui Xu

Avni A Argun

Arthur E Griffith

Brian Rasimick

Katherine E Harrison

Timothy J Norman

Thomas J McCallum

Castro Laicer

Jason Willey

Fan Yang

Castro S T Laicer

Chao Lei

Bryn M McPheeters

Arthur Griffith

Allison Stocks

Method and system for electrochemically compressing hydrogen. In one embodiment, the system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), an anode, and a cathode. First and second gas diffusion media are positioned adjacent the cathode and anode, respectively. A humidifying membrane is positioned next to the second gas diffusion medium on a side opposite the anode. A water supply is connected to the humidifying membrane, and a hydrogen gas supply is connected to the second gas diffusion medium. A hydrogen gas collector including a back pressure regulator is connected to the first gas diffusion medium. Separators, positioned on opposite sides of the MEA, are connected to a power source. In use, hydrogen is electrochemically pumped across the MEA and collected in the hydrogen gas collector. The PEM is kept properly humidified by the humidifying membrane, which releases water into the second gas diffusion medium.

Method and system for electrochemically compressing gaseous hydrogen

An exchange membrane includes, for example, a first layer membrane having a first thickness, a second layer membrane having a thickness less than the first thickness, and the second layer membrane containing a catalyst, a catalyst content in the second layer membrane being greater than a catalyst content in the first layer membrane, and the exchange membrane having an interface between the first layer membrane and the second layer membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes the first layer membrane without a catalyst, and/or the exchange membrane includes a bi-layer exchange membrane.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer membrane electrode assembly

An anode catalyst suitable for use in an electrolyzer. The anode catalyst includes a support and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed on the support. The support may include a plurality of metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles. The catalyst particles, which may be iridium, iridium oxide, ruthenium, ruthenium oxide, platinum, and/or platinum black particles, may be arranged to form one or more aggregations of catalyst particles on the support. Each of the aggregations of catalyst particles may include at least 10 particles, wherein each of the at least 10 particles is in physical contact with at least one other particle. The support particles and their associated catalyst particles may be dispersed in a binder.

Anode catalyst suitable for use in an electrolyzer

In polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolyzes, attaining and maintaining high membrane conductivity and durability is crucial for performance and efficiency. The use of low equivalent weight (EW) perfluorinated ionomers is one of the few options available to improve membrane conductivity. However, excessive dimensional changes of low EW ionomers upon application of wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycles yield catastrophic losses in membrane integrity. Incorporation of ionomers within porous, dimensionally-stable perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates provides improved PEM performance and longevity. The present invention provides novel methods using micromolds to fabricate the perforated polymer electrolyte membrane substrates. These novel methods using micromolds create uniform and well-defined pore structures. In addition, these novel methods using micromolds described herein may be used in batch or continuous processing.

Micromold methods for fabricating perforated substrates and for preparing solid polymer electrolyte composite membranes

An electrochemical device, such as a fuel cell or an electrolyzer. In one embodiment, the electrochemical device includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an anodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the anode of the MEA, a cathodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the cathode, a first bipolar plate in contact with the anodic gas diffusion medium, and a second bipolar plate in contact with the cathodic gas diffusion medium. Each of the bipolar plates includes an electrically-conductive, non-porous, liquid-permeable, substantially gas-impermeable membrane in contact with its respective gas diffusion medium, the membrane including a solid polymer electrolyte and a non-particulate, electrically-conductive material, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and/or metal nanowires. In addition, each bipolar plate also includes an electrically-conductive fluid chamber in contact with the electrically-conductive, selectively-permeable membrane and further includes a non-porous and electrically-conductive plate in contact with the fluid chamber.

Electrochemical device comprising an electrically-conductive, selectively-permeable membrane

An electrochemical device and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, the electrochemical device may be used as a fuel cell and/or as an electrolyzer and includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an anodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the anode of the MEA, a cathodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the cathode, a first bipolar plate in contact with the anodic gas diffusion medium, and a second bipolar plate in contact with the cathodic gas diffusion medium. Each of the bipolar plates includes an electrically-conductive, chemically-inert, non-porous, liquid-permeable, substantially gas-impermeable membrane in contact with its respective gas diffusion medium, as well as a fluid chamber and a non-porous an electrically-conductive plate.

Electrochemical device comprising composite bipolar plate and method of using the same

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. According to one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a thin, rigid, dimensionally-stable, non-electrically-conducting support, the support having a plurality of cylindrical, straight-through pores extending perpendicularly between opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support. The pores are unevenly distributed, with some or no pores located along the periphery and more pores located centrally. The pores are completely filled with a solid polymer electrolyte, the solid polymer electrolyte including a dispersed reduced noble metal or noble metal oxide. The solid polymer electrolyte may also be deposited over the top and/or bottom surfaces of the support.

Solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising a porous support and a solid polymer electrolyte including a dispersed reduced noble metal or noble metal oxide

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. The composite membrane comprises a porous ceramic support having a top surface and a bottom surface. The porous ceramic support may be formed by laser micromachining a ceramic sheet or may be formed by electrochemically oxidizing a sheet of the base metal. A solid polymer electrolyte fills the pores of the ceramic support and preferably also covers the top and bottom surfaces of the support. Application of the solid polymer electrolyte to the porous support may take place by applying a dispersion to the support followed by a drying off of the solvent, by hot extrusion of the solid polymer electrolyte (or by hot extrusion of a precursor of the solid polymer electrolyte followed by in-situ conversion of the precursor to the solid polymer electrolyte) or by in-situ polymerization of a corresponding monomer of the solid polymer electrolyte.

Solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane comprising porous ceramic support

A solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane and method of manufacturing the same. According to one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a rigid, non-electrically-conducting support, the support preferably being a sheet of polyimide having a thickness of about 7.5 to 15 microns. The support has a plurality of cylindrical pores extending perpendicularly between opposing top and bottom surfaces of the support. The pores, which preferably have a diameter of about 5 microns, are made by laser micromachining and preferably are arranged in a defined pattern, for example, with fewer pores located in areas of high membrane stress and more pores located in areas of low membrane stress. The pores are filled with a first solid polymer electrolyte, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer. A second solid polymer electrolyte, which may be the same as or different than the first solid polymer electrolyte, may be deposited over the top and/or bottom of the first solid polymer electrolyte.

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Natick, MA, United States of America

Cortney K Mittelsteadt