US3645786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for depositing on a support a thin layer of a solid ceramic electrolyte for a fuel cell
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-07-18
•
Granted: 1972-02-29
•
Expires: 1988-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A process has been provided for preparing thin solid electrolyte layer suitable for use in fuel cells. This process comprises the following steps: making electrically conductive at least one substance intended to form the electrolyte layer; maintaining said substance placed on at least one conductor in an enclosure under a vacuum, said support being connected to at least one anode of at least one electron beam accelerating anode and being at the same potential thereof; bombarding said substance by at least one focused electron beam; increasing the energy of said beam to bring gradually the substance being bombarded to a temperature close to the melting point of the substance; and maintaining this temperature, for a sufficient time to obtain by progressive evaporation, a layer of electrolyte of a desired thickness deposited on a support placed within the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Tannenberger
- 👤 Pierre Lanaspeze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/12; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/24; C23C14/28; C23C14/30; C23C24/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum is maintained between 10 4 to 10 10 mm.Hg.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the electron bean is focused forming a diameter between 0.1 to 10 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the support upon which the electrolyte is vapor deposited is placed at a distance between 10 and 30 cm. from the point of impact of the substance being bombarded by the electron beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the bombarded substance is pure zirconium oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the bombarded substance is an oxide mixture of zirconium oxide and at least one oxide capable of stabilizing the cubic phase of zirconium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the stabilizing oxide is at least one of the oxides of calcium, magnesium, scandium, yttrium, erbium, dysprosium, and a mixture of heavy rare earth oxides including erbium oxide said mixture being richer in erbium oxide than in the other heavy rare earth oxides in the mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the bombarded substance is a fritted body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the bombarded substance is powder and said powder is being poured unto the conductor support by means of a pouring funnel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the electron beam is bombarding the substance by sweeping intermittently the bombarded surface in a spiral sweep.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the electrolyte precursor substance is made conductive by reducing the same by heating it to a temperature of at least 1,500* C. in at least one reducing gas, the partial oxygen pressure of said gas being less than 10 10 mm. Hg.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said electrolyte precursor substance is made conductive by passing an electric current through it, while heating said substance to a room temperature of more than 800* C. in at least one reductive gas in which the partial oxygen pressure is less than 10 10 mm. Hg.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 11 wherein the reductive gas is hydrogen or carbon monoxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The process according to claim 11 wherein the bombarded substance is made conductive by bringing at least one point of the said substance to a temperature of at least 300* C. and bombarding it under a pressure of less than 10 4 mm. Hg by an unfocused electron beam accelerated under a voltage between 1,500 and 2,000 volts for a time necessary for the transmission of a quantity of electricity of at least 10 coulombs per gram of said substance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process according to claim 1 for depositing a layer of said electrolyte of a thickness greater than 1 micron wherein the support is at a temperature of between 300* C. and 500* C. during deposition thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3347701A
Cited
US3453143A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |