Patent US3956014A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3956014A
Expired / Lapsed
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Precisely-structured electrochemical cell electrode and method of making same
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1974-12-18
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Granted: 1976-05-11
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Expires: 1994-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical cell electrode, having clearly segregated and structured hydrophobic gas channels and electrolyte-filled catalyst channels is provided in which the size and shape of the various passages are such that they offer little resistance to the passage of reactants and products. The electrode consists of alternate layers of porous hydrophobic material and porous hydrophilic catalyst-containing material. The electrode is formed by first depositing the alternate layers of materials and then cutting the structure in a plane at right angles to the plane of deposition at a thickness equal to that of the end product. Electrodes of varying size can be constructed of panels so produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas A. Landsman
- 👤 Edward I. Thiery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An electrochemical cell electrode comprising a first face adapted to be exposed to an electroylte and a second face adapted to be exposed to a gaseous fuel cell reactant, a plurality of porous hydrophobic regions extending between said first and second faces and a plurality of porous hydrophilic catalyst-containing regions extending between said first and second surfaces, said hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions being disposed alternately with each other with the interfaces between said regions being contiguous and clearly defined across the thickness of the electrode from said first surface to said second surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electrochemical cell electrode comprising a first face adapted to be exposed to an electroylte and a second face adapted to be exposed to a gaseous fuel cell reactant, a plurality of porous hydrophobic regions extending between said first and second faces and a plurality of porous hydrophilic catalyst-containing regions extending between said first and second surfaces, said hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions being disposed alternately with each other with the interfaces between said regions being contiguous and clearly defined across the thickness of the electrode from said first surface to said second surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the catalyst in the catalyst-containing layers is concentrated at the interface between the catalyst-containing layer and the hydrophobic layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrode structure of claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic region is polytetrafluoroethylene and said catalyst-containing region is platinum supported on carbon.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for preparing a fuel cell electrode which comprises: a. forming a porous layer of a hydrophobic material, b. depositing upon said layer of hydrophobic material a porous layer of catalyst-containing material, c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until a layered structure having a predetermined thickness is obtained, d. slicing said layered structure transversely to said layers to provide a thin sheet having a thickness substantially smaller than the length and width of said sheet and having a multiplicity of alternate hydrophobic and hydrophilic strips with clearly defined interfaces there between extending across the thickness of said sheet.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for preparing a fuel cell electrode which comprises: a. forming a porous layer of a hydrophobic material, b. depositing upon said layer of hydrophobic material a porous layer of catalyst-containing material, c. repeating steps (a) and (b) until a layered structure having a predetermined thickness is obtained, d. slicing said layered structure transversely to said layers to provide a thin sheet having a thickness substantially smaller than the length and width of said sheet and having a multiplicity of alternate hydrophobic and hydrophilic strips with clearly defined interfaces there between extending across the thickness of said sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said alternate layers are formed by filtration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 4 further comprising the step of depositing a release agent on the filter media prior to the deposition of the first layer of hydrophobic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4 in which the dispersion to be filtered is in a liquid which wets the hydrophobic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 4 further comprising the step of applying a multiplicity of said sheets to a substrate in abutting side by side relationship whereby an electrode substrate larger than said sheet can be formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 4 including, after step (c) the step of forming a block by stacking a plurality of said layered structures on each other, and wherein the step (d) of slicing said layered structure includes slicing said block traversely to said layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the step of forming a block includes cutting said structure transversely to said layers into a plurality of sheets and stacking said smaller sheets on each other to form a block.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said step of forming a block includes the steps of: cutting said layered structure transversely to said layers into a plurality of laminates of substantially identical size and shape and stacking said laminates on each other forming a first intermediate structure, cutting said first intermediate structure transversely to said layers into a plurality of laminates of substantially identical size and shape and stacking the laminates so formed on each other forming a second intermediate structure, and continuing in like manner cutting each successively formed intermediate structure transversely to said layers into a plurality of laminates and stacking such so formed laminates on each other until a block of predetermined thickness is obtained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3770509A
Cited
US3854944A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-11 | 1979-11-10 | 1980-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-11 | 1983-11-10 | 1984-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-11 | 1987-11-10 | 1988-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |