The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 28, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Kevin M Colbow, North Vancouver, CA;
Jiujun Zhang, Richmond, CA;
David P Wilkinson, North Vancouver, CA;
Assignee:
Ballard Power Systems Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
429 12 ; 429 13 ; 429 14 ; 429 40 ; 429 42 ; 429 44 ; 429 30 ;
Abstract
Fuel cell performance in liquid feed fuel cells with an electrode comprising a carbonaceous substrate and an electrocatalyst can be increased by oxidizing the carbon substrate, particularly by electrochemical methods in acidic aqueous solution, prior to incorporation of the electrocatalyst. The treated substrate may thereafter be advantageously impregnated with a proton conducting ionomer to prevent excessive penetration of the applied catalyst into the substrate. The treatment method is particularly effective for direct methanol fuel cell anodes.