US4430391A
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Fuel cell cathode
Assignee: Ovonic Battery Co Inc
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1984-02-07
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Expires: 2002-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A cathode for oxygen reduction in a fuel cell is formed from a host matrix including at least one transition metal element which is structurally modified by the incorporation of at least one modifier element to enhance its catalytic properties. The catalytic body is based on a disordered non-equilibrium material designed to have a high density of catalytically active sites, resistance to poisoning and long operating life. Modifier elements, such as La, Al, K, Cs, Na, Li, C, and O structurally modify the local chemical environments of a host matrix including one or more transition elements such as Mn, Co and Ni to form the catalytic materials of the cathode. The improved, low overvoltage, catalytic materials of the cathode of the present invention increase operating efficiencies of fuel cells employing such cathodes. The catalytic materials can be deposited as a layer on the surface of a porous electrode substrate to form a gas diffusion cathode or can be formed as a gas diffusion electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
- 👤 Krishna Sapru
- 👤 Srinivasan Venkatesan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; H01M4/90; H01M4/9041; H01M4/8605; H01M4/8621; H01M4/9016; H01M2004/8678; H01M2004/8689; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A fuel cell comprising: at least one cathode means for efficient oxygen reduction, said cathode means being formed from a disordered multicomponent material, said cathode means including a host matrix having at least one transition element and incorporating at least one modifier element; a casing having said cathode means positioned therein; at least one anode capable of hydrogen oxidation positioned within said casing and spaced from said cathode means; and an electrolyte in contact with both said anode and said cathode means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A fuel cell comprising: at least one cathode means for efficient oxygen reduction, said cathode means being formed from a disordered multicomponent material, said cathode means including a host matrix having at least one transition element and incorporating at least one modifier element; a casing having said cathode means positioned therein; at least one anode capable of hydrogen oxidation positioned within said casing and spaced from said cathode means; and an electrolyte in contact with both said anode and said cathode means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode means include means designed to include a plurality of chemical elements for providing a large number of catalytically active sites.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode means include means designed to provide local chemical environments which include sites for selectively inactivating poisonous species.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode means include means for reducing oxygen at low overvoltages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material includes a designed internal porosity to enhance the oxygen reduction characteristics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said material has non-equilibrium metastable phases and configurations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material is a substantially polycrystalline multicomponent material lacking long range compositional order.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material is a substantially microcrystalline material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material is a mixture of polycrystalline or microcrystalline phase regions and amorphous phase regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material is an amorphous material containing at least one amorphous phase.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said disordered material is a mixture of microcrystalline and polycrystalline phases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is formed by cosputtering.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode means include a porous gas diffusion substrate and said material is deposited as a layer on said substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is heat treated at a temperature in the range of approximately 250° C. to 400° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said host matrix includes at least one element selected from the group consisiting of Co, Mn and Ni.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said modifier element is a transition element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said modifier element is selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni, La, C, K, Cs, Na, Li, O and Al.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said material is heat treated in a oxygen containing atmosphere.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said modifier element is aluminum which is at least partially selectively removed from said material to further structurally modify said material, increase the catalytic activity of said material and form a porous material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel cell as defined in claim 1 wherein said cathode means include means for increasing the current density at temperatures above ambient temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
A fuel cell cathode comprising: a multicomponent compositionally disordered catalytic material including a host matrix having at least one transition element and having incorporated therein one or more modifier elements, said modifier element modifying the local structural chemical environments of said material to provide said disorder, said material including means creating an increased density of catalytically active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A fuel cell cathode comprising: a multicomponent compositionally disordered catalytic material including a host matrix having at least one transition element and having incorporated therein one or more modifier elements, said modifier element modifying the local structural chemical environments of said material to provide said disorder, said material including means creating an increased density of catalytically active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means include a plurality of chemical elements for providing a large number of catalytically active sites.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means include means designed to provide local chemical environments which include sites for selectively inactivating poisonous species.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means include means for reducing oxygen at low overvoltages.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said disordered material includes a designed internal porosity to enhance the oxygen reduction characteristics.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means has non-equilibrium metastable phases and configurations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said disordered material is a substantially polycrystalline multicomponent material lacking long range compositional order.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said disordered material is a substantially microcrystalline material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said disordered material is a mixture of polycrystalline or microcrystalline phase regions and amorphous phase regions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cathode as defined in claim 31 wherein said disordered material is an amorphous material containing at least one amorphous phase.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cathode as defiined in claim 21 wherein said disordered material is a mixture of microcrystalline and polycrystalline phases.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said material is formed by cosputtering.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means include a porous gas diffusion substrate and said material is deposited as a layer on said substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said material is heat treated at a temperature in the range of approximately 250° C. to 400° C.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said host matrix includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn and Ni.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said modifier element is a transition element.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said modifier element is selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni, La, C, K, Cs, Na, Li, Ni, O and Al.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cathode as defined in clam 21 wherein said catalytic material is heat treated in an oxygen containing atmosphere.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cathode as defined in clam 21 wherein said catalytic material is heat treated in an oxygen containing atmosphere.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said modifier element is aluminum which is at least partially selectively removed from said material to further structurally modify said material, increase the catalytic activity of said material and form a porous material.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cathode as defined in claim 21 wherein said means include means for increasing the current density at temperatures above ambient temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-06 | 1987-08-08 | 1988-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-06 | 1991-08-08 | 1992-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-06 | 1995-08-08 | 1996-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |