Patent EP-2216846-A1 (EP)
Inventor: ERDLER GILBERT DR
IPC: H01M8/04
Filed: 2009-01-28
Abstract: The fuel cell comprises a substrate (2) having an opening (10), a layer stack (7) disposed on the substrate, a counter electrode, an electrolyte layer (4) adjoining a catalytic material and disposed between an electrode (3) and the counter electrode, a fuel supply device connected with the electrode to feed a fuel comprising protons by an opening, a reactant supply device connected to the electrolyte layer by the counter electrode to feed a reactant. The stack comprises an electrode designed as a self-supporting metal membrane covering the opening. The fuel cell comprises a substrate (2) having an opening (10), a layer stack (7) disposed on the substrate, a counter electrode, an electrolyte layer (4) adjoining a catalytic material and disposed between an electrode (3) and the counter electrode, a fuel supply device connected with the electrode to feed a fuel comprising protons by an opening, a reactant supply device connected to the electrolyte layer by the counter electrode to feed a reactant. The stack comprises an electrode designed as a self-supporting metal membrane covering the opening. The membrane is permeable to hydrogen atoms and blocks the passage of gaseous or liquid fuel. The electrolyte layer is permeable for protons. The reactant is suitable for reacting with the protons in order to generate electric current. The layer thickness of the electrode is less than 100 mu m and the electrode is made of a non-porous material across the entire layer thickness. A first layer stack and a second layer stack are arranged to each other on the substrate. Between the layer stacks, an intermediate area is formed through which the electrode and electrolyte layer of the layer stack are distanced from each other. The counter electrode of the second layer stack extends up in the intermediate area and the first layer stack is directly or indirectly connected over a conductor path with the electrode in electrically conductive manner. The arrangement formed from the substrate and the layer stack is arranged in the interior cavity of the housing in such a way that it subdivides the interior cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber separated from the first chamber. The first chamber has the fuel supply device and the second chamber has the reactant supply device. The second chamber has a passage opening, which is covered with a cover made of porous material permeable for the reactants. The counter electrode is arranged as air diffusion layer that is permeable for atmospheric oxygen as the reactants. The electrode consists of palladium or palladium/silver alloy. The fuel supply device is a chemical hydride and has a hydrocarbon connection. The back side of the electrode turned away the electrolyte layer is coated with a catalyst that stands in contact with the hydrocarbon connection. The fuel supply device is arranged as zinc-potassium hydroxide cell. The counter electrode consists of platinum or platinum alloy. The cross section of the passage opening coming from the back side of the substrate turned away from the electrode rejuvenates to the electrode.