초록 ▼

A new type of electrochemical cell which can be used for generating electricity or in an electrolysis mode for producing gases such as hydrogen and oxygen comprises laterally spaced apart or side-by-side catalyst layers as electrodes with the gap between the catalyst layers being bridged by a solid

A new type of electrochemical cell which can be used for generating electricity or in an electrolysis mode for producing gases such as hydrogen and oxygen comprises laterally spaced apart or side-by-side catalyst layers as electrodes with the gap between the catalyst layers being bridged by a solid electrolyte which provides an ion conductive path from one catalyst layer to the other. The catalyst layers and the electrolyte are preferably in the form of thin films or layers on the surface of an inert supporting substrate. A plurality of these cells may be disposed on the substrate and interconnected electrically forming a network of series and parallel connected cells. Means are provided to feed fuel and oxidant to the electrodes either as separate gases or mixed together if appropriate catalytic materials are selected.

대표청구항 ▼

A plurality of electrochemical cells for the production of electricity from a gaseous fuel and a gaseous oxidant, each cell comprising: an anode electrode comprising a thin layer of anode catalyst adapted to electrochemically oxidize a gaseous fuel; a cathode electrode comprising a thin layer of cat

A plurality of electrochemical cells for the production of electricity from a gaseous fuel and a gaseous oxidant, each cell comprising: an anode electrode comprising a thin layer of anode catalyst adapted to electrochemically oxidize a gaseous fuel; a cathode electrode comprising a thin layer of cathode catalyst adapted to electrochemically reduce a gaseous oxidant, said anode and cathode catalyst layers being laterally spaced apart and in close proximity to each other with a gap being defined between said layers; means for feeding a gaseous fuel to said anode electrode and a gaseous oxidant to said cathode electrode and for removing spent fuel and oxidant from said cells; and solid electrolyte means comprising electrolyte material bridging said gap between said anode and cathode catalyst layers to provide an ion conductive path therebetween, wherein said cells are laterally disposed relative to each other, each of said cells being adjacent at least one other of said cells, the cathode catalyst layer on one cell of each adjacent pair of cells being in close proximity to the anode catalyst layer of the other cell of said same adjacent pair of cells with a space being defined between said last mentioned anode and cathode catalyst layers, and electrically conductive material bridging said spaces and connecting said plurality of cells electrically in series to form a cell-group.