A fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly used therein. The membrane electrode assembly is a three-dimensional membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell configured as a three-dimensional thin film structure in which an inner space is divided into two intertwined subvolumes by an interface, and the interface is configured as an MEA thin film and a first subvolume of the two subvolumes is provided as a channel for fuel and a second subvolume is provided as a channel for an oxidizer. The fuel cell includes a casing which accommodates the three-dimensional membrane electrode assembly therein and independently communicates with the first subvolume and the second subvolume and includes inlets and outlets for the fuel and the oxidizer.

The description relates to fuel cells and fuel cell systems. One example includes at least one multi cell membrane electrode assembly (MCMEA). Individual MCMEAs can include multiple serially interconnected sub-cells.

A method includes dispensing ion-conducting particles on a substrate comprising an adhesive to which the ion-conducting particles adhere; overcoating the ion conducting particles with a polymer; removing the substrate and the adhesive from the ion conducting particles; and removing a polymer overburden on the ion conducting particles to form a device that includes: (i) the polymer or a derivative thereof, and (ii) ion-conducting particles. At least a portion of the ion-conducting particles extend through the polymer or its derivative.

A glucose fuel cell for reception into a given constrained volume of implantation in a vertebrate in which the glucose fuel cell has access to fluid containing glucose. The fuel cell includes an anode adapted to oxidize the glucose, a cathode adapted to reduce an oxidant, and a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode and separating the anode from the cathode. At least one of the anode or cathode define a flexible sheet that is geometrically deformed to be receivable into the given constrained volume of implantation and increase volumetric power density. Related methods of making a glucose fuel cell of this type and implantable assemblies including the glucose fuel cell are also disclosed.

A method includes dispensing ion-conducting particles on a substrate comprising an adhesive to which the ion-conducting particles adhere; overcoating the ion conducting particles with a polymer; removing the substrate and the adhesive from the ion conducting particles; and removing a polymer overburden on the ion conducting particles to form a device that includes: (i) the polymer or a derivative thereof, and (ii) ion-conducting particles. At least a portion of the ion-conducting particles extend through the polymer or its derivative.

A method includes dispensing ion-conducting particles on a substrate comprising an adhesive to which the ion-conducting particles adhere; overcoating the ion conducting particles with a polymer; removing the substrate and the adhesive from the ion conducting particles; and removing a polymer overburden on the ion conducting particles to form a device that includes: (i) the polymer or a derivative thereof, and (ii) ion-conducting particles. At least a portion of the ion-conducting particles extend through the polymer or its derivative.

The method of making a nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membrane is a process for forming membranes for use in hydrogen and methanol fuel cell applications, for example. A hydrophobic polymer, such as polypropylene, is blended with a nanofiller, such halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) or propylene-grafted maleic anhydride nano-layered silica (Ma-Si), to form a dry mix, which is then pelletized for extrusion in a twin-screw extruder to form a thin film nanocomposite. The thin film nanocomposite is then annealed and cold stretched at room temperature. The cold stretching is followed by stretching at a temperature ranging from approximately 110 C. to approximately 140 C. The nanocomposite is then heat set to form the nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membrane. The nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membrane may then be further plasma etched and impregnated with a sulfonated polymer, such as sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, a polycarboxylate superplasticizer or perfluorosulfonic acid.

A fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly used therein. The membrane electrode assembly is a three-dimensional membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell configured as a three-dimensional thin film structure in which an inner space is divided into two intertwined subvolumes by an interface, and the interface is configured as an MEA thin film and a first subvolume of the two subvolumes is provided as a channel for fuel and a second subvolume is provided as a channel for an oxidizer. The fuel cell includes a casing which accommodates the three-dimensional membrane electrode assembly therein and independently communicates with the first subvolume and the second subvolume and includes inlets and outlets for the fuel and the oxidizer.

The description relates to fuel cells and fuel cell systems. One example includes at least one multi cell membrane electrode assembly (MCMEA). Individual MCMEAs can include multiple serially interconnected sub-cells.

The description relates to fuel cells and fuel cell systems. One example includes at least one multi cell membrane electrode assembly (MCMEA). Individual MCMEAs can include multiple serially interconnected sub-cells.