Wen C Liu

US Patent:

7419732, Sep 2, 2008

Filed:

Feb 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/055993

Inventors:

Wen Liu - Newark DE, US
William B. Johnson - Newark DE, US
Simon J. C. Cleghorn - Newark DE, US

Assignee:

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H01M 8/00
H01M 8/10
H01M 4/00

US Classification:

429 13, 429 33, 429 40

Abstract:

The invention is a method of reducing catalyst dissolution in the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; (b) assembling a fuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly; (c) applying a fluid comprising an oxidant to the cathode of the_membrane electrode assembly; (d) applying a fluid comprising a fuel to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; and (e) supplying a sufficient quantity of reducing agent to the cathode to maintain the average open-circuit voltage of the cathode at less than about 0. 98 V.

US Patent:

20040081886, Apr 29, 2004

Filed:

Oct 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/281050

Inventors:

David Zuckerbrod - Baltimore MD, US
Wen Liu - Newark DE, US

International Classification:

H01M002/16
H01M002/18

US Classification:

429/144000, 429/094000, 429/250000

Abstract:

A separator for a wound electrochemical device comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having pores defining an internal surface area, the internal surface area being substantially coated with a pore coating agent, the separator having a longitudinal modulus of greater than 20,000 lbs/in.

US Patent:

20050221134, Oct 6, 2005

Filed:

Apr 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/819091

Inventors:

Wen Liu - Newark DE, US
Simon Cleghorn - Newark DE, US
William Johnson - Newark DE, US

International Classification:

H01M008/04
H01M008/10

US Classification:

429013000, 429024000, 429030000, 429022000

Abstract:

A method of operating a fuel cell at an operating temperature below about 150 degrees Celsius, wherein the fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte interposed therebetween, the cathode having at least one surface in contact with a cathode chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and the anode in contact with an anode chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and the electrolyte containing less than about 500 ppm of a catalyst capable of enhancing the formation of radicals from hydrogen peroxide. The method includes the steps of applying a fuel to the anode chamber; applying an oxidant to the cathode chamber; and controlling the amount of water supplied to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber such that water vapor pressure is sub-saturated at the operating temperature at the gas outlet of the cathode chamber. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising sensors to measure outlet relative humidity of the gas outlets of a fuel cell and a means to control the relative humidity on the gas inlets of a fuel cell, such that the apparatus can control the relative humidity of the gas inlets to maintain an average relative humidity in the fuel cell of less than 100%.

US Patent:

20060040175, Feb 23, 2006

Filed:

Aug 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/206697

Inventors:

David Zuckerbrod - Baltimore MD, US
Wen Liu - Newark DE, US

International Classification:

H01M 2/16
H01M 6/14
H01M 6/10

US Classification:

429142000, 429302000, 429094000

Abstract:

A separator for a wound electrochemical device comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having pores defining an internal surface area, the internal surface area being substantially coated with a pore coating agent, the separator having a longitudinal modulus of greater than 20,000 lbs/in.

US Patent:

20070072036, Mar 29, 2007

Filed:

Sep 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/235478

Inventors:

Thomas Berta - Wilmington DE, US
William Shamrock - Newark DE, US
Wen Liu - Newark DE, US

International Classification:

H01M 8/10
H01M 4/96
H01M 4/92
C08J 5/22
H01M 4/88

US Classification:

429033000, 429044000, 521027000, 502101000

Abstract:

A solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, where the solid polymer electrolyte membrane has a failure force greater than about 115 grams and comprises a composite membrane consisting essentially of (a) at least one expanded PTFE membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils, and (b) at least one ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the expanded PTFE membrane so as to render an interior volume of the expanded PTFE membrane substantially occlusive; (c) at least one substantially occlusive, electronically insulating first composite layer interposed between the expanded PTFE membrane and the first surface, the first composite layer comprising a plurality of first carbon particles supporting a catalyst comprising platinum and an ion exchange material, wherein a plurality of the first carbon particles has a particle size less than about 75 nm, or less than about 50 nm, or less than about 25 nm.

US Patent:

20090050269, Feb 26, 2009

Filed:

Aug 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/190640

Inventors:

Wen Liu - Newark DE, US
William B. Johnson - Newark DE, US
Simon J. C. Cleghorn - Newark DE, US
Ronald M. Reid - North East MD, US

International Classification:

B29C 63/48

US Classification:

156344

Abstract:

The invention is a method of reducing catalyst dissolution in the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; (b) assembling a fuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly; (c) applying a fluid comprising an oxidant to the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly; (d) applying a fluid comprising a fuel to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; and (e) supplying a sufficient quantity of reducing agent to the cathode to maintain the average open-circuit voltage of the cathode at less than about 0.98 V.

US Patent:

20110039960, Feb 17, 2011

Filed:

Sep 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/886817

Inventors:

Ping Xu - Hockessin DE, US
Jack J. Hegenbarth - Wilmington DE, US
Rachel Radspinner - Newark DE, US
Paul D. Drumheller - Flagstaff AZ, US
William B. Johnson - Newark DE, US
Wen K. Liu - Newark DE, US
Xin Kang Chen - Shanghai, CN

International Classification:

C08J 9/16
C08F 214/26

US Classification:

521 505, 521 56, 521145

Abstract:

A functional TFE copolymer fine powder is described, wherein the TFE copolymer is a polymer of TFE and at least one functional comonomer, and wherein the TFE copolymer has functional groups that are pendant to the polymer chain. The functional TFE copolymer fine powder resin is paste extrudable and expandable. Methods for making the functional TFE copolymer are also described. The expanded functional TFE copolymer material may be post-reacted after expansion.

US Patent:

20130084460, Apr 4, 2013

Filed:

Nov 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/684955

Inventors:

Jack J. Hegenbarth - Wilmington DE, US
Xin Kang Chen - Shanghai, CN
Rachel Radspinner - Flagstaff AZ, US
Paul D. Drumheller - Flagstaff AZ, US
William B. Johnson - Newark DE, US
Wen K. Liu - Newark DE, US

Assignee:

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. - Newalk DE

International Classification:

C08F 228/02
C08F 220/28
C08F 220/50

US Classification:

428422, 521145, 521134

Abstract:

A functional TFE copolymer fine powder is described, wherein the TFE copolymer is a polymer of TFE and at least one functional comonomer, and wherein the TFE copolymer has functional groups that are pendant to the polymer chain. The functional TFE copolymer fine powder resin is paste extrudable and expandable. Methods for making the functional TFE copolymer are also described. The expanded functional TFE copolymer material may be post-reacted after expansion.