Patent ID: 8071258
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising: an electrolyte layer; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the electrolyte layer and to which a liquid fuel is supplied; a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the electrolyte layer and to which an oxidant is supplied; a fuel chamber which is provided next to the first electrode and stores the liquid fuel to be supplied to the first electrode; a fuel reservoir which is provided next to the fuel chamber and stores the liquid fuel to be refilled into the fuel chamber; an osmotic pressure generating source which dissolves in a liquid in the fuel chamber; and a selectively permeable unit which is provided between the fuel chamber and the fuel reservoir and allows the liquid fuel to move from the fuel reservoir to the fuel chamber by means of osmotic pressure generated by the osmotic pressure generating source, the osmotic pressure generating source being impermeable to the selectively permeable unit, wherein the osmotic pressure generating source remains undissolved when the only liquid stored in the fuel chamber is the liquid fuel, the fuel chamber is provided with a fuel supply port, the fuel reservoir is configured to be connected to or disconnected from the fuel supply port, and the selectively permeable unit is provided in a path for supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel reservoir to the fuel chamber, and wherein the selectively permeable membrane unit is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile, polymethyl methacrylate, ethylene vinyl copolymer, polyester polymer alloys, and sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based polymer.