Attachment of graphene and metal or metal oxide-modified graphene to organic polymers used in organic fuel cells

US9954241B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Research Foundation for The State University of New York · US

Inventors

• Miriam Rafailovich · Plainview, US
• Rebecca Isseroff · West Hempstead, US
• Hongfei Li · Briarcliff Manor, US
• Lee Blackburn · North Woodmere, US
• Arthur Chen · Laguna Hills, US
• Andrew Chen · San Jose, US
• Sneha Chittabathini · Hicksville, US
• Alexandra Tse · North Woodmere, US
• Cheng Pan · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2016
• Grant date: Apr 24, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a polyelectrolyte membrane and a solution of reduced graphene oxide and/or graphene oxide functionalized with metallized nanoparticles. The electrodes are coated with a polymer and the polyelectrolyte membrane has a hydrophobic exterior surface that is subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure, which changes the hydrophobic, exterior surface to a hydrophilic exterior surface. The polyelectrolyte membrane is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and can include a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. The solution forms a coating on the hydrophilic exterior surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes can be coated with a polymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that can be subjected to ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3) exposure. The metallized nanoparticles increase the efficiency of the fuel cell by at least 50% when the feed gas includes at least 1000 ppm carbon monoxide.