초록 ▼

The invention is an improved fuel cell system suited for application in a vehicle. Specifically, the invention provides an improved system to remove CO emissions that has a rapid dynamic response (about 1 second) and can operate over a wide range of temperatures (between 0 and 800 degrees Celsius).

The invention is an improved fuel cell system suited for application in a vehicle. Specifically, the invention provides an improved system to remove CO emissions that has a rapid dynamic response (about 1 second) and can operate over a wide range of temperatures (between 0 and 800 degrees Celsius). The fuel cell system comprises hydrogen fuel, a CO removal system based upon non-Faradaic electrochemical modification of catalyst activity (electrochemical promotion), and a fuel cell stack. The CO removal system comprises a catalyst/working electrode, an electrolyte, a counter electrode, and a power source. The CO removal system's intrinsic catalytic rate is greater than an intrinsic electrocatalytic rate. The catalyst can be Pt, Rh, Au, Cu/ZnO, Cu/CuO, ABO3(perovskite), zeolite, and Pd. The power source can be a battery, potentiostat, or galvanostat.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell system, comprising: a source of a hydrogen fuel; a CO removal system using non-Faradaic electrochemical modification of catalyst activity, said removal system including a working electrode, an electrolyte, a counter electrode, and a power source, wherein said working electrode in

1. A fuel cell system, comprising: a source of a hydrogen fuel; a CO removal system using non-Faradaic electrochemical modification of catalyst activity, said removal system including a working electrode, an electrolyte, a counter electrode, and a power source, wherein said working electrode includes a catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) Cu/ZnO(b) Cu/CuO(c) ABO3(d) zeolite; and, a fuel stack. 2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is a layer of material formed on the working electrode.3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a DC battery.4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the working electrode and the counter electrode are coupled in series with the power source, such that current flows between the working electrode and the counter electrode.