Patent ID: 6835480
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of using a temporary dilute surfactant water solution to enhance mass transport in a fuel cell (52) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell (52) having a cathode catalyst (60) and an anode catalyst (58) on opposed surfaces of an electrolyte (56), having a cathode flow field (85) for directing the oxygen containing oxidant reactant stream to pass adjacent to the cathode catalyst (60), and having an anode flow field (71) for directing the hydrogen containing reducing fluid reactant stream to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (58), the method comprising the steps of:a. directing the temporary dilute surfactant water solution to flow through at least one of the flow fields (71) (85), wherein the dilute surfactant water solution has a surface tension of not less than 50 dynes/cm; b. then, removing the dilute surfactant solution from the fuel cell (52); and, c. then, directing the oxygen containing oxidant reactant stream to flow through the cathode flow field (85) and directing the hydrogen containing reducing fluid reactant stream to flow through the anode flow field (71).