An electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensor is disclosed. The sensor is a closed bipolar electrode having a first end and a second end. The first end comprises an electrochromic material. The second end comprises an electrocatalyst and an oligonucleotide aptamer tethered to the second end. Further, the oligonucleotide aptamer is labelled with a redox indicator.

Systems and methods are provided for mechanical pretreatment of bipolar plates, for example, for plating electrodes in redox flow batteries. In one example, a method for disrupting surfaces of a bipolar plate may include pressing the bipolar plate between imprint plates, and removing the pressed bipolar plate from the imprint plates prior to use in a redox flow battery. In some examples, the pressed bipolar plate may include negative indentations from at least one of the imprint plates. In some examples, the imprint plates may be patterned meshes, such that the negative indentations may include patterns of asymmetric protrusions. In this way, the bipolar plate may be pretreated via pressing so as to reduce wear to manufacturing equipment (relative to other mechanical pretreatment processes, for example) while maintaining electrochemical performance of the redox flow battery.

A method of preparing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell is disclosed. The method includes (a) using an electrically conductive filler and a polymer binder to prepare a bipolar plate blank, (b) vacuum-sealing the bipolar plate blank in a metal foil bag, (c) applying hot isostatic pressing to the bipolar plate blank vacuum-sealed in the metal foil bag at a pressure greater than 100 MPa and a temperature of 150-400° C., and (d) peeling the bipolar plate blank that has undergone the hot isostatic pressing from the metal foil bag, and thereby obtaining the bipolar plate. A bipolar plate prepared by the method is also disclosed.

A fuel cell, of proton-exchange-membrane type, includes, stacked in the following order: a first terminal, an end anode plate, a plurality of membrane plates having a bipolar plate between every two membrane plates, an end cathode plate and a second terminal Each bipolar plate includes, preassembled in the following order: a medial cathode plate and a medial anode plate, each medial anode, end anode, medial cathode and end cathode plate comprising at least one duct for distributing a reactant. The anode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and an anode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial cathode plate of this bipolar plate. The cathode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and a cathode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial anode plate of this bipolar plate.

A bipolar electrode comprising a cathode substrate loaded with a halogen complexing agent that has a structure of formula Q.sup.+(R.sup.A)(R.sup.B)(R.sup.C)(R.sup.D)X.sup.−, is disclosed. The bipolar electrode also comprises a bipolar electrode plate having a cathode surface and an anode surface, wherein the cathode surface opposes the anode surface. The cathode surface at least partially contacts the cathode substrate. An electrochemical cell and a battery stack comprising the bipolar electrode, and a process for manufacturing the bipolar electrode are also disclosed.

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell for generation of electrical power has a bipolar plate body having a first surface. The bipolar plate body has at least one gas flow channel on the first surface, the gas flow channel defining a first gas flow channel side wall and an opposite second gas flow channel side wall, and the gas flow channel running in a first direction to expose the electrode to the reactant. The bipolar plate also has at least one electrical conductor to run at least partly parallel to the first direction within the bipolar plate body behind the first gas flow channel side wall and/or the second gas flow channel side wall, such that, when a voltage is applied to the electrical conductor, the electrical conductor forms an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field to accelerate the reactant at least partly in the direction of the electrode.

The disclosure relates to a fuel cell, a bipolar plate and a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell. The bipolar plate comprises: at least one distributing region; at least one first through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an inlet of a first reactant; and at least one second through hole which communicates with the distributing region via a circumferential opening on a sidewall as an outlet of a first reactant. Each of the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole has a cross section of approximately trapezoid with an arc edge or an oblique edge, and the circumferential opening is formed on a curved sidewall or on an oblique sidewall. The fuel cell has improved structural design of the bipolar plate to improve flow uniformity and hydrothermal management of the fuel cell, thereby improving large current discharge performance and power density of the fuel cell. It can improve power performance, fuel efficiency and cruising range of electric vehicles.

To provide a space-saving bipolar plate for a fuel cell comprising an anode plate and a cathode plate, anode gas channels and cathode gas channels lead from main gas ports on opposite sides into an active area and are distributed across the width of said area such that they are subsequently diverted towards an opposite distribution area, and the coolant channels branch in the distribution area and, after branching, are diverted towards the anode gas channels and towards the cathode gas channels and, in each region of overlap with the anode gas channels and the cathode gas channels, are diverted collectively such that the coolant channels lead, together with the anode gas channels and the cathode gas channels, into the active area with no overlap and alternatingly with said anode gas channels and cathode gas channels.

The present disclosure is directed towards flow structures in electrochemical cells for use in high differential pressure operations. The flow structure on the low pressure-side of the cell has a larger surface area than the flow structure on the high-pressure side of the cell at the flow structure—MEA interface. The boundary of the high pressure flow structure is entirely within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. A seal around the high pressure flow structure is also contained within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. In such an arrangement, high fluid pressures acting on the electrolyte membrane from the high-pressure side of the cell is fully and continuously balanced by the flow structure on the low pressure-side of the membrane. Use of the low pressure flow structure as a membrane support prevents the rupture or deformation of the membrane under high stresses.

Metal-halogen flow battery cell, stack, system, and method, the stack including flow battery cells that each include an impermeable first electrode, an insert disposed on the first electrode and comprising sloped channels, a cell frame disposed around the insert and including a cell inlet manifold configured to provide a metal halide electrolyte and an opposing cell outlet manifold configured to receive the electrolyte, a porous second electrode disposed on the insert, such that sloped separation zones are formed between the second electrode and the channels, conductive connectors electrically connecting the first and second electrodes, and ribs disposed on the second electrode and extending substantially parallel to the channels of the insert. A depth of the channels increases as proximity to the cell outlet manifold increases.