Scalable micro power cells with no-gap arrangement between electron and proton transfer elements
US10615440B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2012 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power cell and a method for fabricating a power cell including two body portions and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) there between. The body portions each include a reaction chamber for holding an anolyte solution including a photosynthetic organism or a catholyte solution. At least one body portion has an optically transparent window to allow light into the reaction chamber enabling a photosynthetic reaction. A thin metal layer is coated directly on each of first and second surfaces of the PEM and then the two body portions are coupled together with the PEM located there between. Coating the first thin metal layer on the surfaces of the PEM involves coating a thin gold layer onto the surface, covering the gold layer with a layer of photoresist, patterning the photoresist layer through a mask, exposing the photoresist layer to ultraviolet radiation, and removing the unexposed photoresist.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.