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:
Jul. 08, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 18, 2000
Karen Fleckner, Tacoma, WA (US);
Feng Zheng, Seattle, WA (US);
Cynthia Buenviaje, Seattle, WA (US);
Yao Huang, Vancouver, WA (US);
Jeff Pedersen, Tacoma, WA (US);
David Lim, Seattle, WA (US);
H. Sho Fuji, Seattle, WA (US);
Jeremy Hergesheimer, Seattle, WA (US);
Michael Treiber, Seattle, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A novel design and process for: a) a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with aligned carbon nanotubes as a nano-scale gas distributor which yield better gas conversion efficiencies in PEM fuel cells, and (b) doped silicon flow field plates (FFP) which increase electrode conductivity of the membrane-catalyst-gas diffusion layer (GDL)-FFP interfaces of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Also, part of the invention are a stacking configuration and a gas distribution design that also enhance conductivity of carbon/metal catalyst/electrode, GDL, and FFP interfaces surfaces without crushing the FFPs. Aligned carbon nanoscale gas distributors are employed at the interfaces, thereby increasing the overall performance of the PEMFC. The FFPs are easy to manufacture and mass-producible, yet mechanically sturdy and significantly lighter in weigh than their conventional counterparts. Another novel feature of the invention is an integrated monitoring and communication/Internet system located directly or connected to the FFP.