Patent · US Active

Pattern molding of polymeric flow channels for micro fuel cells

US7736788B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
6References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 12, 2005
Grant dateJun 15, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 15, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for large scale manufacturing of polymeric micro fuel cells using a metallic mold. The method includes creating a Gaussian-shaped channel on a first substrate using a laser; sputtering a metallic seed layer over the first substrate using a first metal; electroplating a second metal over the seed layer to create a negative mold; releasing the negative mold from the first substrate; fabricating a plurality of second substrates, each having a Gaussian-shaped channel, and using the negative mold to fabricate multiple fuel cells. The method provides lower cost and greater flexibility as compared with conventional ablation and etching processes of manufacturing of polymeric micro fuel cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.