Method for Producing a Gas and/or Electron Conduction Structure and Fuel Cell/Electrolyzer Cell

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The patent describes an improved method for producing gas- and electron-conducting structures used in fuel cells and electrolysis cells. The process involves applying material onto specific areas of a surface (such as an electrode or metal sheet) to form the conductive structures. This approach eliminates the need for expensive and inflexible mechanical processing methods like stamping or milling commonly used to create these structures, and instead uses processes such as printing, extrusion, or casting, which are more cost-effective and flexible. The resulting structures can serve both as conduits for gases and as current collectors, offering superior efficiency, lower production costs, and adaptability for various cell stack designs.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for clean energy generation in stationary power plants.
• Production of electrolysis cells for hydrogen generation from renewable electricity.
• Integration in fuel cell stacks for electric vehicles and other mobility applications.
• Use in backup power systems or off-grid power supplies requiring stacks of fuel cells.
• Manufacturing of membrane modules for gas separation based on the same structural technology.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Lower production costs due to elimination of expensive mechanical shaping and machining processes.
• Greater design flexibility, enabling adaptation to different fuel cell and electrolysis cell stack architectures.
• Improved material efficiency and reduced waste, as material is only applied where needed.
• Enhanced electrical contact and gas flow due to tailored porosity and structure formation.
• Reduced thickness and weight of the resultant components, enabling more compact and lightweight products.
• Potentially improved cell performance by reducing electrical resistance and optimizing gas supply.
• Simplified manufacturing process suitable for large-scale and automated mass production.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a gas- and electron-conducting structure for a fuel cell or electrolysis cell, to a method for producing a fuel cell or electrolysis cell, to a method for producing a fuel cell stack, to a gas- and electron-guiding structure for a fuel cell or electrolysis cell, to a fuel cell or electrolysis cell, and to a fuel cell stack. In a method for producing a gas- and electron-conducting structure (10) for a fuel cell (20) or electrolysis cell, material (12) is deposited on at least one region of a surface (30) in order to form the gas- and electron-conducting structure (10).