초록

A fuel cell/battery uses amine-based liquid complexes as a direct oxidation fuel in an alkaline fuel cell/battery. Oxidant solutions are used on the cathode side to improve power density.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel cell/battery comprising: an anode electrode; a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode elec

1. A fuel cell/battery comprising: an anode electrode; a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix; andan oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix. 2. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises an absorbent material. 3. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises at least one ofa glass mat; andglass wool. 4. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one of: an alkaline electrolyte within the matrix; andan anionic exchange resin within the matrix. 5. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one of: an alkaline electrolyte absorbed within the matrix; andan anionic exchange resin contained within the matrix. 6. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim wherein the matrix comprises an anionic solid polymer membrane electrolyte. 7. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, further comprising:a electrocatalyst dispersed in carbon cloth; andwherein the matrix is further configured to provide structural support for the carbon electrocatalyst. 8. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the matrix is further configured to provide electrode separation. 9. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an amine-based fuel supply configured to provide fuel to the anode; and an oxidant solution supply configured to provide oxygen to the cathode. 10. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the cathode cloth electrode is configured to be immersed in the oxidant solution. 11. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the anode electrode comprises a screen configured to facilitate fuel flow and current collection. 12. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the anode electrode comprises a perforated metal screen configured to facilitate fuel flow and current collection. 13. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the amine-based fuel comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of:coordinated complexes of amines;ammonia;an ammonia compound;an ammonia derivative;a hydroxylamine;a hydroxylaniine compound;a hydroxylamine derivative;hydrazine;a hydrazine compound;a hydrazine derivative; andan amine coordination compound. 14. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the oxidant solution comprises an organic oxidizer. 15. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the oxidant solution comprises an inorganic oxidizer. 16. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the oxidant solution comprises permanganate salt. 17. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, further comprising:a housing within which the anode electrode, the cathode electrode, the matrix, the amine chamber and the oxidant chamber are formed; anda cartridge which is removably attachable to the housing, the cartridge being configured to contain at least one of an amine and an oxidant. 18. The fuel cell/battery as recited in claim 1, further comprising:a housing within which the anode electrode, the cathode electrode, the matrix, the amine chamber and the oxidant chamber are formed; anda cartridge which is removably attachable to the housing, the cartridge being configured to contain an amine and an oxidant. 19. A cartridge for a fuel cell/battery, the cartridge comprising:a cartridge housing which is configured to be removably attachable to a fuel cell/batter housing, the cartridge housing being configured to contain at least one of an amine and an oxidant. 20. The cartridge as recited in claim 19, where the cartridge housing is configured to contain an amine and an oxidant. 21. A combination electricity consuming device and fuel cell/battery comp rising:an electricity consuming device;a fuel cell/battery electrically coupled to the electricity consuming device for providing power thereto, the fuel cell/battery comprising:an anode electrode;a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix; andan oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix. 22. The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed integrally with respect to the electricity consuming device. 23. The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed separately with respect to the electricity consuming device. 24. The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein the fuel cell/battery is removable from the electricity consuming device. 25. The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein the fuel cell/battery is configured to replace a battery of the electricity consuming device or recharge the battery of the electricity consuming device. 26. The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein the fuel cell/battery comprises a removably attachable cartridge, the cartridge being configured to contain at least one of an amine-based fuel and an oxidant solution. 27. A cellular telephone comprising:a receiver;a transmitter;a fuel cell/battery electrically coupled to the receiver and the transmitter for providing power thereto, the fuel cell/battery comprising:an anode electrode;a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix; andan oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix. 28. The cellular telephone as recited in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed integrally with respect to the receiver and transmitter. 29. The cellular telephone as recited in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed separately with respect to the receiver and transmitter. 30. The cellular telephone as recited in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell/battery is removable from the receiver and transmitter. 31. The celluar telephone as recited in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell/battery is configured to replace or recharge a battery of the electricity receiver and transmitter. 32. The cellular telephone as recited in claim 27, wherein the fuel cell/battery comprises a removably attachable cartridge, the cartridge being configured to contain at least one of an amine-based fuel and an oxidant solution. 33. An electrochemical method for providing electricity, the method comprising: providing an anode electrode;providing a cathode electrode;providing ionic conduction and electron insulation via a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side;providing an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix via an amine chamber; andprovision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matix via an oxidant chamber. 34. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the matrix comprises an absorbent material. 35. The method as recite in claim 33, wherein the matrix comprises at least one at least one of:a glass mat; andglass wool. 36. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising at least one of: an alkaline electrolyte within the matrix; andan anionic exchange resin within the matrix. 37. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising at least one of: an alkaline electrolyte absorbed within the matrix; and an anionic solid polymer electrolyte absorbed within the matrix. 38. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the matrix comprises an anionic solid polymer membrane. 39. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising: a carbon cloth impregnated with electrocatalyst; andwherein the matrix is further configured to provide structural support for the carbon electrocatalyst. 40. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising providing electrode separation via the matrix. 41. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising: providing amine-based fuel to the anode;and providing an oxidant solution to the cathode. 42. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising immersing the cathode electrode in the oxidant solution. 43. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising facilitating field flow and current collection via an anode electrode comprising a screen. 44. The method as recited in claim 33, further comprising facilitating field flow and current collection via an anode electrode comprising a perforated metal screen. 45. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the amine-based fuel comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of:coordinated complexes of amines;ammonia;an ammonia compound;an ammonia derivative;a hydroxylamine;a hydroxylamine compound;a hydroxylamine derivative;hydrazine;a hydrazine compound;a hydrazine derivative; andan amine coordination compound. 46. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the oxidant solution comprises an organic oxidizer. 47. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the oxidant solution comprises an inorganic oxidizer salt. 48. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the oxidant solution comprises permanganate. 49. A method for replenishing a fuel cell/battery, the method comprising:removing a substantially spent first cartridge from a fuel cell/battery, the fuel cell/battery comprising:an anode electrode;a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix;an oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix; andattaching a second cartridge to the fuel cell/battery, the second cartridge containing at least one of an amine-based fuel and an oxidant solution. 50. A method for powering an electricity consuming device, the method comprising:providing an electricity consuming device;powering the electricity consuming device via a fuel cell/battery electrically coupled thereto, the fuel cell/battery comprising:an anode electrode;a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix; andan oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix. 51. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed integrally with respect to the electricity consuming device. 52. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed separately with respect to the electricity consuming device. 53. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the fuel cell/battery is removable from the electricity consuming device. 54. The method as recite in claim 50, wherein the fuel cell/battery is configured to replace a battery of the electricity consuming device. 55. The method as recited in claim 50, wherein the fuel cell/battery comprises a removably attachable cartridge, the cartridge being configured to contain at least one of an amine-based fuel and an oxidant solution. 56. A method for powering a cellular telephone, the method comprising: providing a receiver;providing a transmitter;powering the receiver and the transmitter via a fuel cell/battery electrically coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the fuel cell battery comprising:an anode electr ode;a cathode electrode;a matrix having an anode facing side and a cathode facing side, the matrix being configured to provide ionic conduction and electron insulation;an amine chamber configured to facilitate provision of an amine to the anode electrode and to the matrix; andan oxidant chamber configured to facilitate provision of an oxidant solution to the cathode electrode and to the matrix. 57. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed integrally with respect to the receiver and transmitter. 58. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fuel cell/battery is formed separately with respect to the receiver and transmitter. 59. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fuel cell/battery is removable from the receiver and transmitter. 60. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fuel cell/battery is configured to replace a battery of the electricity receiver and transmitter. 61. The method as recited in claim 56, wherein the fuel cell/battery comprises a removably attachable cartridge, the cartridge being configured to contain at least one of an amine-based fuel and an oxidant solution.