Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Xerox Corporation

Thomas A Trabold

Jon P Owejan

Gayatri Vyas

Mahmoud H Abd Elhamid

Thomas W Tighe

Youssef Morcos Mikhail

Gayatri Vyas Dadheech

Jeffrey Allan Rock

Steven R Falta

Reena L Datta

John M Hammond

Steven J Spencer

Keith E Newman

Steven G Goebel

Chunxin Ji

Pinkhas A Rapaport

Gerhard Winter

Michael R Schoeneweiss

Lee Curtis Whitehead

Robert F Dunham

James M Keogan

Roy Gerald Gordon

William Henry Pettit

Tao Xie

Richard H Blunk

Cindy C Chen

Brian K Brady

Daniel J Darga

Yan Zhang

Scott Lawrence Peters

Eric J Connor

Joerg Roth

Ralf Senner

Michael D Cartwright

Harald Schlag

Jeanette E O'Hara

Jeffrey M Guzda

Jian Cai

Paul D Nicotera

Po-Ya Abel Chuang

J Michael Sanchez

Charles H Olk

Torsten Berning

Paul C Lincoln

Christian Wieser

Stephen William Gaarenstroom

Dawen Pang

A method of depositing a conductive material is described. The method includes: providing a plate selected from anode plates, cathode plates, bipolar plates, or combinations thereof, wherein the plate includes gas flow channels; providing a diffusion media in contact with the gas flow channel side of the plate to form an assembly; introducing a gaseous precursor of the conductive material into the assembly using a chemical vapor infiltration process; infiltrating the gaseous precursor into the diffusion media and gas flow channels of the plates; and depositing a coating of the conductive material on the diffusion media, the gas flow channels of the plate, or both. An assembly having a CVI conductive coating and a fuel cell incorporating the diffusion media having the CVI conductive coating are also described.

Co-deposition of conductive material at the diffusion media/plate interface

A fuel cell plate having a first plate having an inlet aperture and a second plate disposed against the first forming a conduit. The conduit has a continuous seam formed between the first plate and the second plate to facilitate a transport of water to the outlet aperture. The plates can include various indentations and protuberances that form portions of the conduit. The fuel cell plate is well suited for use in a vehicle fuel cell stack for reducing water retention in a fuel cell without increasing the number of required components and fabrication cost of the fuel cell plate.

Bipolar plate with features for mitigation of exit water retention

Fuel cell bipolar plates are made by depositing a pinhole free corrosion resistant and/or a conductive layer on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method. In one embodiment, a conductive layer is deposited on an anodized metal plate using atomic layer deposition method. In another embodiment, at least one corrosion resistant metal oxide layer and at least one conductive layer are deposited on a metal plate individually using atomic layer deposition method. In yet another embodiment, a corrosion resistant and conductive metal oxynitride layer is deposited on a metal plate using an atomic layer deposition method.

Low cost fuel cell bipolar plate and process of making the same

One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si&#x2014;O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.

Hydrophilic coating for fuel cell bipolar plate and methods of making the same

A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a non-crystalline carbon layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The non-crystalline carbon layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided.

Amorphous carbon coatings for fuel cell bipolar plates

A fuel cell stack assembly is disclosed that includes a porous member disposed within a flow path for a reactant. A fluid collection member is provided within the flow path adjacent to and in fluid communication with the porous member. The porous member and the fluid collection member cooperate to collect liquid water from the reactant flowing in the flow path, wherein the collected liquid water may be drained from the fluid collection member.

PEM fuel cell stack inlet water regulation system

A fuel cell assembly is provided that includes a fluid collection member disposed in a fluid inlet for a reactant, wherein the fluid collection member militates against liquid water on an inner surface of the fluid inlet from being received by a fuel cell of the fuel cell assembly.

A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes a metal with a graphene-containing layer disposed over at least a portion of the metal plate. The graphene-containing layer includes an activated surface which is hydrophilic. Moreover, the flow field plate is included in a fuel cell with a minimal increase in contact resistance. Methods for forming the flow field plates are also provided.

Graphene coated SS bipolar plates

A product comprising a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising nanoparticles having sizes ranging from 2 to 100 nanometers.

Fuel cell component with coating including nanoparticles

A fuel cell assembly is disclosed that utilizes a water transport structure extending from fuel cell plates of the assembly into fuel cell assembly manifolds, wherein the water transport structure facilitates the transport of liquid water from the fuel cell plates thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water and ice in the fuel cell stack.

Fuel cell bipolar plate exit for improved flow distribution and freeze compatibility

A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a carbide coating that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. Suitable carbides include, but are not limited to, chromium carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, niobium carbide and zirconium carbide. The carbide coating is then polished or textured by a suitable process, such as laser or chemical etching, to provide a surface morphology that makes the coating more hydrophilic, and further reduces the contact resistance on its surface.

Metallic bipolar plates with high electrochemical stability and improved water management

A method for depositing a hydrophilic coating on flow field plates or bipolar plates and manifolds in a fuel cell stack after the stack is assembled. The method includes preparing a solution that contains hydrophilic nano-particles suspended in a suitable solvent. The cathode and anode inlet and outlet manifolds and the cathode and anode flow channels are filled with the solution. The solution is then pumped out of the stack using, for example, a stream of nitrogen. The stack is allowed to dry, using heat if desirable, to provide a film of the nano-particles formed on the anode and cathode flow channels and manifolds within the stack.

Low-cost hydrophilic treatment method for assembled PEMFC stacks

A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a conductive coating having formed nanopores that make the coating hydrophilic. Any suitable process can be used to form the nanopores in the coating. One process includes co-depositing a conductive material and a relatively unstable element on the plate, and then subsequently dissolving the element to remove it from the coating and create the nanopores. Another process includes using low energy ion beams for ion beam lithography to make the nanopores.

Super-hydrophilic nanoporous electrically conductive coatings for PEM fuel cells

Growing community of inventors

Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Thomas A Trabold