Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.

James L Strebe

Benjamin Reichman

William C Mays

Stanford R Ovshinsky

Michael A Fetcenko

Kwo Young

Srinivasan Venkatesan

Cristian Fierro

Kevin Fok

Thomas J Hopper

Avram Zallen

Tim Hicks

Boyko Alajov

A low temperature alkaline fuel cell having a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode, both of which are comprised of high performance non-precious metal catalytic materials providing high performance at low temperatures.

Low temperature alkaline fuel cell

A method of producing hydrogen gas from a reaction of carbon monoxide with a base. Hydrogen is produced in a reaction of a base with carbon monoxide that proceeds through the formation of a bicarbonate or carbonate compound as a by-product. In some embodiments, the reaction may occur in the presence of water and may produce carbon dioxide as a by-product. The instant base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous than the water-gas shift reaction and are able to produce hydrogen gas from carbon monoxide at greater reaction rates than is possible with the water-gas shift reaction. Carbon monoxide in a purified or unpurified state or as a component within a mixture of gases is suitable for use in the instant invention. Metal hydroxides are the preferred base reactant. The base reactant can be in the solid phase, molten phase, liquid phase or solution phase.

Production of hydrogen via a base-facilitated reaction of carbon monoxide

A method of producing hydrogen gas from a reaction of an organic substance having multiple alcohol functionality with a base. Hydrogen can be produced in a reaction of a base with an organic substance having multiple alcohol functionality that may proceed through the formation of a bicarbonate or carbonate compound as a byproduct. In some embodiments, the reaction may occur in the presence of water. The preferred organic substances include diols, triols, and higher order alcohols. Non-cyclic (linear or branched) organic substances having multiple alcohol functionality are among the preferred reactants. The instant base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous than the corresponding conventional reformation reactions of the organic substances and can produce hydrogen at less extreme reaction conditions. The preferred reactants further include low volatility organic substances having multiple alcohol functionality. Such reactants permit the efficient formation of hydrogen in a liquid phase system and enable a continuous reaction capability in the liquid phase without the need to condense volatilized reactant.

Production of hydrogen from non-cyclic organic substances having multiple alcohol functionality

A catalyst having catalytically active material supported on a carrier matrix. The catalytically active material may be a mixed-valence, nanoclustered oxide(s), an organometallic material or a combination thereof. The supported catalytic material is particularly useful for catalyzing oxygen reduction in a fuel cell, such as an alkaline fuel cell.

Catalyst for fuel cell oxygen electrodes

An industrial catalyst having: a support; a plurality of metallic particulates distributed throughout the support; and a metal at least partially covering the surface of the support. A method for making a catalyst including the steps of: forming a support with non-noble metal particulates distributed throughout the support; and at least partially covering the surface of the support with a metal.

Coated catalytic material with a metal phase in contact with a grain boundary oxide

An alkaline electrochemical cell having a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode. The electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte comprising an additive material which reduces cell pressure by decreasing hydrogen gas evolution.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

James L Strebe