Qinetiq Limited

The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Kevin J Green

William Ranulf Slee

Philip Nicholas Barnes

James Charles Wilson

James C Wilson

John M Cruickshank

Susan J Howe

Ranulf Slee

Michael J Freeman

John B Lakeman

A system for the humidification of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, the system comprising a first layer and a second layer; wherein the first layer comprises a porous material ( ) substantially coincident with a first surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell ( ); wherein the second layer comprises a non-absorbent material ( ) substantially coincident with the first layer; and wherein perforations in the second layer allow air to flow through the first and second layers to a cathode ( ) of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

System for the humidification of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

An electrochemical cell ( ) comprises an anode ( ), a solid cathode ( ) and an electrolyte ( ). The electrolyte comprises an electrochemically reactive conductive salt, an organic liquid phase comprising one or more organic compounds; and less than 0.25 M of all ionically charged additive, distinct from the electrochemically reactive conductive salt. The additive comprises a conductive salt which in use is not electrochemically reactive and which has a nitrogen containing cation in a sufficient quantity that conductivity is improved and percentage material utilisation of the cathode is improved at increased discharge rates as compared with a cell using an electrolyte which does not contain the additive. An improvement of approximately 10% in conductivity is achieved for a cell according to the invention using an electrolyte (c) with an additive.

Electrochemical cell comprising a liquid organic electrolyte with a conductive additive

A multi-element fuel cell system comprises a substantially cylindrical former ( ), a rechargeable hydrogen fuel source ( ) and a plurality of fuel cell elements ( ). The former comprises a series of interconnecting modules each perforated to allow passage of fuel to the fuel cell elements. Each fuel cell element ( ) is positioned radially outwardly of the former ( ) and is provided with channels, arranged to receive and direct fuel gas, an anode current collector, a gasket ( ), a first diffusion backing layer ( ), a membrane electrode assembly ( ), a second diffusion backing layer ( ) and a cathode current collector ( ). The cathode current collector applies even compression to the fuel cell element, such that good electrical contact is maintained within each fuel cell element. The fuel cell elements are electrically connect in series via respective anode and cathode current collectors and then capped at each end of the former for connection to equipment. The former and current collectors have substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion and the fuel source is coupled to the fuel cell elements. The system is suitable for man-portable applications.

Multi-element fuel cell system

An electrolyte comprises a composite of a polymer and a molten salt electrolyte immobilized within the polymer. The electrolyte is stable and ionically conducting at a temperature substantially equal to the melting point of the molten salt electrolyte. In this form, the electrolyte is suitable for use in electrochemical cells, supercapacitors or electrochromic windows and displays.

Electrolyte

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Gosport, United Kingdom

Kevin J Green