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Electrochemical cell systems are provided. In some implementations, the electrochemical cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge connected to the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes (i) a fuel cell housing having a first external surface and a first internal surface defining a first inter

Electrochemical cell systems are provided. In some implementations, the electrochemical cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge connected to the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes (i) a fuel cell housing having a first external surface and a first internal surface defining a first internal volume of the fuel cell housing, and (ii) a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed within the first internal volume. The fuel cartridge includes (i) a cartridge housing having a second external surface and a second internal surface defining a second internal volume of the cartridge housing, wherein the second internal volume includes a fuel; and (ii) a fuel consuming agent disposed on at least one of the first external surface and the second external surface.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of coating a fuel cartridge comprising coating a portion of an external surface of a fuel cartridge with a fuel consuming agent, wherein the fuel consuming agent is dispersed in a gas-permeable matrix. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge comprises

What is claimed is: 1. A method of coating a fuel cartridge comprising coating a portion of an external surface of a fuel cartridge with a fuel consuming agent, wherein the fuel consuming agent is dispersed in a gas-permeable matrix. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge comprises a hydrogen fuel cartridge. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fuel consuming agent comprises a hydrogen consuming agent. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge is a methanol fuel cartridge, a methane fuel cartridge, a propane fuel cartridge, a butane fuel cartridge, an ethanol fuel cartridge, a formic acid fuel cartridge, a hydrazine fuel cartridge, or an ammonia fuel cartridge. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel cartridge comprises the external surface and an internal surface defining an internal volume. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein fuel is disposed within the internal volume. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises mixing an oxidizing material comprising a metal with an activating material comprising a metal to form the fuel consuming agent prior to coating the portion of the external surface of the fuel cartridge. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fuel cell is a methanol fuel cell, an ethanol fuel cell, a methane fuel cell, a propane fuel cell, a butane fuel cell, a formic acid fuel cell, a hydrazine fuel cell, or an ammonia fuel cell. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the fuel cell comprises a hydrogen fuel cell. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fuel consuming agent comprises a hydrogen consuming agent. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the hydrogen fuel cell comprises a housing having the external surface and an internal surface defining an internal volume. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the oxidizing material comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a manganese oxide, a manganese oxyhydroxide, a nickel oxyhydroxide, a copper oxide, a barium oxide, a silver oxide, a mercury oxide, potassium permanganate, silver permanganate, a manganese phosphate, a bismuth oxide, m-dinitrobenzene, and a quinone. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the oxidizing material comprises copper oxide. 14. The method of claim 7, wherein the activating material includes a first activating component and a second activating component, the first and second activating components each being capable of cleaving hydrogen. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second activating component of the activating material includes a transition metal, or a salt or oxide thereof. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first activating component of the activating material includes a transition metal, or a salt or oxide thereof. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and ruthenium. 18. A method of coating a fuel cartridge comprising: mixing an oxidizing material comprising a metal with an activating material comprising a metal to form a fuel consuming agent; and coating a portion of an external surface of a fuel cartridge.