Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Paul Taichiang Yu

Frederick T Wagner

Jingxin Zhang

Steven G Goebel

William Henry Pettit

Steven D Burch

Hubert Gasteiger

Yan Zhang

Bruce Jeffrey Clingerman

Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

Andrew Clay Bobel

Gerald E Voecks

Wenbin Gu

Michael D Cartwright

Jeffrey D Cain

Leng Mao

Glenn William Skala

John P Salvador

Manish Sinha

Belabbes Merzougui

Craig S Gittleman

Donald H Keskula

John C Fagley

Susan Yan

Robert S Foley

Andrew J Maslyn

Jeanette E O'Hara

Swathy Swathirajan

Clark G Hochgraf

Nicholas Paul William Pieczonka

Balsu Lakshmanan

Thomas E Moylan

Rohit Makharia

Qiang Li

A system for minimizing iron infusion in a fuel cell includes a catalyst coated on proton exchange membrane (CCM) having a plurality of side edge portions. The CCM includes a membrane having a first planar side and a second planar side, an anode on the first planar side of the membrane, and a cathode on the second planar side of the membrane. The system further includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL) including a first micro-porous layer. The first micro-porous layer is in contact with the anode. The system further includes a cathode GDL including a second micro-porous layer. The second micro-porous layer is in contact with the cathode. The system further includes an adhesive in contact with the plurality of side edge portions of the CCM. The first micro-porous layer, the second micro-porous layer, and the adhesive collectively encapsulate the CCM and minimize iron infusing into the membrane.

System and method for preventing iron from infusing into a proton exchange membrane in a fuel cell

A method for forming a prelithiated, layered anode material includes contacting an ionic compound and a lithium precursor in an environment having a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 900° C. The ionic compound is a three-dimensional layered material represented by MX, where M is one of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and X is one of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and boron (B). The lithium precursor is selected from the group consisting of: LiH, LiC, LiOH, LiCl, and combinations thereof. The contacting of the ionic compound and the lithium precursor in the environment causes removal of cations from the ionic compound to create openings in interlayer spaces or voids in the three-dimensional layered material thereby defining a two-dimensional layered material and also causes introduction of lithium ions from the lithium precursor into the interlayer spaces or voids to form the prelithiated, layered anode material.

Solid-state synthesis for the fabrication of a layered anode material

A method for forming a layered anode material includes contacting a precursor material and a first electrolyte. The precursor material is a layered ionic compound represented by MX, where M is one of calcium and magnesium and X is one of silicon, germanium, and boron. The method further includes applying a first bias and/or current as the precursor material contacts the first electrolyte to remove cations from the precursor material to create a two-dimensional structure that defines the layered anode material. In certain variations, the method further includes contacting the two-dimensional structure and a second electrolyte and applying a second bias and/or current as the two-dimensional structure contacts the second electrolyte so as to cause lithium ions to move into interlayer spaces or voids created in the two-dimensional structure by the removal of the cations thereby forming the layered anode material.

Electrochemical exchange for the fabrication of a layered anode material

A fuel cell system that includes a component for removing anionic contaminants is provided. The fuel system including a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas feed subsystem in communication with fuel cell anodes in the fuel cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas feed subsystem system in communication with fuel cell cathodes in the fuel cell stack, and an anionic scavenging subsystem in communication with the fuel gas feed subsystem and/or the an oxygen-containing gas feed subsystem.

Anionic scavenger materials in anode/cathode loop of fuel cell system

A method for reducing fuel cell voltage loss in a fuel cell that includes an anode catalyst layer including an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst layer including a cathode catalyst with a proton exchange layer interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The method includes a step of initiating shutdown of the fuel cell. Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide-like species contaminating the anode catalyst is oxidized during shutdown such that carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide-like species is removed from the anode catalyst.

Methods and processes to recover the voltage loss due to anode contamination

A fuel cell system that employs a process for minimizing corrosion in the cathode side of a fuel cell stack in the system by combining cathode re-circulation and stack short-circuiting at system shut-down and start-up.

Method for mitigating cell degradation due to startup and shutdown via cathode re-circulation combined with electrical shorting of stack

One embodiment of the invention includes a product comprising: a membrane electrolyte having a first face and a second face; and an anode over the first face and a cathode over the second face, and wherein the anode has a catalyst loading that is less than 50% of the catalyst loading of the cathode.

Fuel cell and method for reducing electrode degradation during startup and shutdown cycles

A system and method for estimating an amount of carbon support loss in fuel cells of a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, for example, during vehicle off-times. The system and method include estimating an amount of time that a hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero and calculating an amount of carbon loss based on the amount of time that the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero.

Vehicle application for air storage cathode carbon loss estimation

A fuel cell system that employs a technique for reducing or significantly eliminating the MEA degradation that occurs as a result of the hydrogen-air front in the anode flow channels at system start-up. After system shut-down, any hydrogen remaining within the anode flow channels will be quickly reacted or diffused. At the next start-up, a switch is closed to provide a dead short across the positive and negative terminals of the fuel cell stack as hydrogen is being introduced into the anode flow channels. The existing air in the cathode flow channels reacts with the hydrogen being introduced across the membrane in the normal fuel cell reaction. However, the short prevents a voltage potential across the membrane.

Life extension of PEM fuel cell using startup method

One embodiment of the invention includes a method including providing a cathode catalyst ink comprising a first catalyst, an oxygen evolution reaction catalyst, and a solvent; and depositing the cathode catalyst ink on one of a polymer electrolyte membrane, a gas diffusion medium layer, or a decal backing.

Electrodes containing oxygen evolution reaction catalysts

A method of operating the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side by flowing hydrogen into the anode side and flowing air into the cathode side. The fuel cell produces electricity that is used to operate a primary electrical device. To shut down the stack in one embodiment, the primary electrical device is disconnected from the stack. The flow of air into the cathode side is stopped and positive hydrogen pressure is maintained on the anode side. The fuel cell stack is shorted and oxygen in the cathode side is allowed to be consumed by hydrogen. The inlet and outlet valves of the anode and the cathode sides are closed. Thereafter, the flow of hydrogen into the anode side is stopped and the flow of exhaust from the cathode side is stopped.

Method of mitigating fuel cell degradation due to startup and shutdown via hydrogen/nitrogen storage

A product includes a fuel cell stack, and an enclosure apparatus sealingly enclosing the fuel cell stack to define a hydrogen chamber between the fuel cell stack and the enclosure apparatus. An operation of the product may include maintaining a positive pressure of hydrogen in the hydrogen chamber.

Hydrogen chamber enclosed fuel cell stack and related fuel cell shutdown operation

A system for the slow purge of a fuel cell stack. A pump can be used to keep the coolant circulating, so that the stack, an associated radiator, and coolant plumbing therebetween are maintained at the same temperature. The heat from the stack, liquid coolant, and radiator can be used to provide the heat of vaporization of the liquid in the stack, and the liquid water can be removed from the stack as water vapor. Because the air flow rate is relatively low, there is sufficient time for the water to vaporize and for the air to come to the same temperature as the stack, which is also facilitated by high surface area for heat transfer. Purge air can be drawn into the stack through the radiator, via a purge air blower, which preheats the air to help avoid frigid air contacting the stack.

Slow purge for improved water removal, freeze durability, purge energy efficiency and voltage degradation due to shutdown/startup cycling

A method of fuel cell shutdown and start-up is provided. The method of shutdown includes introducing hydrogen gas into the cathode passages to purge a cathode gas from the cathode passages, then introducing air through the cathode and anode passages to remove water droplets and vapor from the fuel cell stacks. The method from fuel cell start-up includes introducing hydrogen gas into the anode and cathode passages to consume/purge oxygen in both the anode and cathode passages, and then introducing a cathode gas into the cathode passages. The introduction of hydrogen into the cathode passages in both the shutdown and start-up procedures allow a rapid draw down of the anode/cathode open circuit voltage and avoids providing a hydrogen/air front while the cathode is filled with air.

[object Object]

A fuel cell includes an anode layer, a polymeric ion conductive membrane disposed over the anode layer, a cathode layer disposed over the polymeric ion conductive membrane, and an effective amount of a reactive material that corrodes at a higher rate than support carbon in the cathode layer, anode layer, or both. The reactive material is either proximate to or distributed within the cathode catalyst layer. In a variation, reactive material is also included proximate to the anode layer.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Paul Taichiang Yu