Claims
- 1. A metallic fuel cell component for low temperature fuel cells utilizing proton exchange membranes, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silane.
- 2. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating is stable when in contact with or in close proximity to a proton exchange membrane and within anode and cathode environments of a fuel cell.
- 3. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 4. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethoxysilane, octadecyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and methyldimethoxysilane.
- 5. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 6. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 7. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 8. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 9. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one acylamino silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 10. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 9, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-acetylaminopropyltriethoxysilane and delta-benzoylaminobutylmethyldiethoxysilane.
- 11. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 9, wherein the silane is a ureido silane.
- 12. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 11, wherein the silane is gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane.
- 13. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one cyano silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 14. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 13, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of cyanoeethyltrialkoxysilane, cyanopropytri-alkoxysilane, cyanoisobutyltrialoxysilane, 1-cyanobutyltrialkoxysilane, 1-cyanoisobutyltrialkoxysilane and cyanophenyltrialkoxysilane.
- 15. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises a mercaptosilane.
- 16. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 15, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 17. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 15, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 18. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 15, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane, and partial hydrolyzates thereof.
- 19. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises a tetrafunctional silane.
- 20. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 19, wherein the coating comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 21. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 19, wherein the coating comprises between about 2% and about 5% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 22. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 19, wherein the tetrafunctional silane comprises a tetraalkoxysilane.
- 23. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 19, wherein the tetrafunctional silane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane and tetra-n-butoxysilane.
- 24. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane.
- 25. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 24, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded hydrolizable group.
- 26. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 25, wherein the silicon-bonded hydrolizable group is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, halogen and aryloxy.
- 27. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 24, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated group.
- 28. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 27, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltri(2-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, ethynytrimethoxysilane, ethynytriethoxysilane 2-propynyltrimethoxysilanesilane, 2-propynyltriethoxysilanesilane and 2-propynyltrichlorosilane.
- 29. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane of the formula:
- 30. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 29, wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, octyl, decyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, benzyl, phenyl, phenylethyl and naphthyl and their isomers.
- 31. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane comprises a relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer.
- 32. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 31, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is of the formula:
- 33. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 31, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is a cyclic trimer, a cyclic tetramer a linear dimer, a linear trimer, a linear tetramer or a linear pentamer.
- 34. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane.
- 35. A metallic fuel cell component for low temperature fuel cells utilizing proton exchange membranes, wherein the plate is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silazane.
- 36. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 35, wherein the silazane comprises polysilazane.
- 37. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 35, wherein the silazane comprises hexamethyldisilazane.
- 38. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a bipolar separator plate.
- 39. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 38, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises metal foil.
- 40. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 39, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises stainless steel.
- 41. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a current collector.
- 42. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 41, wherein the current collector comprises flat metallic wires.
- 43. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 42, wherein the current collector comprises stainless steel.
- 44. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is entirely coated with the coating.
- 45. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is partially coated with the coating.
- 46. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is coated only at areas that are in intimate contact with or close proximity to a proton exchange membrane when the metallic fuel cell component is incorporated into a fuel cell comprising the proton exchange membrane.
- 47. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is further coated with an additional coating.
- 48. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 47, wherein the additional coating comprises a polymer.
- 49. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 48, wherein the polymer is a conductive polymer.
- 50. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 48, wherein the polymer is a non-conductive polymer.
- 51. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 48, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to adhere the additional coating to the metallic fuel cell component.
- 52. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 48, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to treat the metallic fuel cell component for acceptance of the additional coating.
- 53. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 48, wherein the coating comprising a silane is sandwiched between the metallic fuel cell component and the additional coating.
- 54. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 55. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 56. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 57. The metallic fuel cell component of claim 1, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 58. A fuel cell comprising a metallic fuel cell component and a proton exchange membrane, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silane.
- 59. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating is stable when in contact with or in close proximity to a proton exchange membrane and within anode and cathode environments of a fuel cell.
- 60. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 61. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethoxysilane, octadecyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and methyldimethoxysilane.
- 62. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 63. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 64. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 65. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 66. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one acylamino silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 67. The fuel cell of claim 66, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-acetylaminopropyltriethoxysilane and delta-benzoylaminobutylmethyldiethoxysilane.
- 68. The fuel cell of claim 66, wherein the silane is a ureido silane.
- 69. The fuel cell of claim 68, wherein the silane is gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane.
- 70. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one cyano silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 71. The fuel cell of claim 70, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of cyanoeethyltrialkoxysilane, cyanopropytri-alkoxysilane, cyanoisobutyltrialoxysilane, 1-cyanobutyltrialkoxysilane, 1-cyanoisobutyltrialkoxysilane and cyanophenyltrialkoxysilane.
- 72. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane comprises a mercaptosilane.
- 73. The fuel cell of claim 72, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 74. The fuel cell of claim 72, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 75. The fuel cell of claim 72, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane, and partial hydrolyzates thereof.
- 76. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane comprises a tetrafunctional silane.
- 77. The fuel cell of claim 76, wherein the coating comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 78. The fuel cell of claim 76, wherein the coating comprises between about 2% and about 5% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 79. The fuel cell of claim 76, wherein the tetrafunctional silane comprises a tetraalkoxysilane.
- 80. The fuel cell of claim 19, wherein the tetrafunctional silane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane and tetra-n-butoxysilane.
- 81. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane.
- 82. The fuel cell of claim 81, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded hydrolizable group.
- 83. The fuel cell of claim 82, wherein the silicon-bonded hydrolizable group is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, halogen and aryloxy.
- 84. The fuel cell of claim 81, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated group.
- 85. The fuel cell of claim 84, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltri(2-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, ethynytrimethoxysilane, ethynytriethoxysilane 2-propynyltrimethoxysilanesilane, 2-propynyltriethoxysilanesilane and 2-propynyltrichlorosilane.
- 86. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane of the formula:
- 87. The fuel cell of claim 86, wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, octyl, decyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, benzyl, phenyl, phenylethyl and naphthyl and their isomers.
- 88. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane comprises a relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer.
- 89. The fuel cell of claim 88, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is of the formula:
- 90. The fuel cell of claim 88, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is a cyclic trimer, a cyclic tetramer a linear dimer, a linear trimer, a linear tetramer or a linear pentamer.
- 91. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane.
- 92. A fuel cell for low temperature fuel cells utilizing proton exchange membranes, wherein the plate is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silazane.
- 93. The fuel cell of claim 92, wherein the silazane comprises polysilazane.
- 94. The fuel cell of claim 92, wherein the silazane comprises hexamethyldisilazane.
- 95. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a bipolar separator plate.
- 96. The fuel cell of claim 95, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises metal foil.
- 97. The fuel cell of claim 96, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises stainless steel.
- 98. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a current collector.
- 99. The fuel cell of claim 98, wherein the current collector comprises flat metallic wires.
- 100. The fuel cell of claim 99, wherein the current collector comprises stainless steel.
- 101. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is entirely coated with the coating.
- 102. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is partially coated with the coating.
- 103. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is coated only at areas that are in intimate contact with or close proximity to a proton exchange membrane when the metallic fuel cell component is incorporated into a fuel cell comprising the proton exchange membrane.
- 104. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is further coated with an additional coating.
- 105. The fuel cell of claim 104, wherein the additional coating comprises a polymer.
- 106. The fuel cell of claim 105, wherein the polymer is a conductive polymer.
- 107. The fuel cell of claim 105, wherein the polymer is a non-conductive polymer.
- 108. The fuel cell of claim 105, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to adhere the additional coating to the metallic fuel cell component.
- 109. The fuel cell of claim 105, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to treat the metallic fuel cell component for acceptance of the additional coating.
- 110. The fuel cell of claim 105, wherein the coating comprising a silane is sandwiched between the metallic fuel cell component and the additional coating.
- 111. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 112. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 113. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 114. The fuel cell of claim 58, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 115. A fuel cell stack comprising a fuel cell comprising a metallic fuel cell component and a proton exchange membrane, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silane.
- 116. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating is stable when in contact with or in close proximity to a proton exchange membrane and within anode and cathode environments of a fuel cell.
- 117. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 118. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethoxysilane, octadecyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and methyldimethoxysilane.
- 119. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 120. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 121. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 122. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 123. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one acylamino silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 124. The fuel cell stack of claim 123, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-acetylaminopropyltriethoxysilane and delta-benzoylaminobutylmethyldiethoxysilane.
- 125. The fuel cell stack of claim 123, wherein the silane is a ureido silane.
- 126. The fuel cell stack of claim 125, wherein the silane is gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane.
- 127. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one cyano silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 128. The fuel cell stack of claim 127, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of cyanoeethyltrialkoxysilane, cyanopropytri-alkoxysilane, cyanoisobutyltrialoxysilane, 1-cyanobutyltrialkoxysilane, 1-cyanoisobutyltrialkoxysilane and cyanophenyltrialkoxysilane.
- 129. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane comprises a mercaptosilane.
- 130. The fuel cell stack of claim 129, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 131. The fuel cell stack of claim 129, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 132. The fuel cell stack of claim 129, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane, and partial hydrolyzates thereof.
- 133. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane comprises a tetrafunctional silane.
- 134. The fuel cell stack of claim 133, wherein the coating comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 135. The fuel cell stack of claim 133, wherein the coating comprises between about 2% and about 5% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 136. The fuel cell stack of claim 133, wherein the tetrafunctional silane comprises a tetraalkoxysilane.
- 137. The fuel cell stack of claim 133, wherein the tetrafunctional silane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane and tetra-n-butoxysilane.
- 138. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane.
- 139. The fuel cell stack of claim 138, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded hydrolizable group.
- 140. The fuel cell stack of claim 139, wherein the silicon-bonded hydrolizable group is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, halogen and aryloxy.
- 141. The fuel cell stack of claim 138, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated group.
- 142. The fuel cell stack of claim 141, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltri(2-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, ethynytrimethoxysilane, ethynytriethoxysilane 2-propynyltrimethoxysilanesilane, 2-propynyltriethoxysilanesilane and 2-propynyltrichlorosilane.
- 143. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane of the formula:
- 144. The fuel cell stack of claim 143, wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, octyl, decyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, benzyl, phenyl, phenylethyl and naphthyl and their isomers.
- 145. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane comprises a relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer.
- 146. The fuel cell stack of claim 145, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is of the formula:
- 147. The fuel cell stack of claim 145, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is a cyclic trimer, a cyclic tetramer a linear dimer, a linear trimer, a linear tetramer or a linear pentamer.
- 148. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane.
- 149. A fuel cell stack for low temperature fuel cells utilizing proton exchange membranes, wherein the plate is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silazane.
- 150. The fuel cell stack of claim 149, wherein the silazane comprises polysilazane.
- 151. The fuel cell stack of claim 149, wherein the silazane comprises hexamethyldisilazane.
- 152. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a bipolar separator plate.
- 153. The fuel cell stack of claim 152, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises metal foil.
- 154. The fuel cell stack of claim 153, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises stainless steel.
- 155. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a current collector.
- 156. The fuel cell stack of claim 155, wherein the current collector comprises flat metallic wires.
- 157. The fuel cell stack of claim 156, wherein the current collector comprises stainless steel.
- 158. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is entirely coated with the coating.
- 159. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is partially coated with the coating.
- 160. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is coated only at areas that are in intimate contact with or close proximity to a proton exchange membrane when the metallic fuel cell component is incorporated into a fuel cell comprising the proton exchange membrane.
- 161. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is further coated with an additional coating.
- 162. The fuel cell stack of claim 161, wherein the additional coating comprises a polymer.
- 163. The fuel cell stack of claim 162, wherein the polymer is a conductive polymer.
- 164. The fuel cell stack of claim 162, wherein the polymer is a non-conductive polymer.
- 165. The fuel cell stack of claim 162, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to adhere the additional coating to the metallic fuel cell component.
- 166. The fuel cell stack of claim 162, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to treat the metallic fuel cell component for acceptance of the additional coating.
- 167. The fuel cell stack of claim 162, wherein the coating comprising a silane is sandwiched between the metallic fuel cell component and the additional coating.
- 168. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 169. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 170. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 171. The fuel cell stack of claim 115, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 172. A method of protecting a metallic fuel cell component from corrosion comprising at least partially coating a metallic fuel cell component with a coating comprising a silane.
- 173. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating is stable when in contact with or in close proximity to a proton exchange membrane and within anode and cathode environments of a fuel cell.
- 174. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 175. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of methyltrimethoxysilane, octadecyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and methyldimethoxysilane.
- 176. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 177. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 178. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 179. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane having the formula:
- 180. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one acylamino silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 181. The method of claim 180, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-acetylaminopropyltriethoxysilane and delta-benzoylaminobutylmethyldiethoxysilane.
- 182. The method of claim 180, wherein the silane is a ureido silane.
- 183. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is gamma-ureidopropyltriethoxysilane.
- 184. The method of claim 172, wherein the coating comprises a silane containing at least one cyano silane linkage and at least one alkene or arylene group.
- 185. The method of claim 184, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of cyanoeethyltrialkoxysilane, cyanopropytri-alkoxysilane, cyanoisobutyltrialoxysilane, 1-cyanobutyltrialkoxysilane, 1-cyanoisobutyltrialkoxysilane and cyanophenyltrialkoxysilane.
- 186. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane comprises a mercaptosilane.
- 187. The method of claim 186, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 188. The method of claim 186, wherein the mercaptosilane comprises a mercaptosilane of the formula:
- 189. The method of claim 186, wherein the silane is selected from the group consisting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltrimethoxysilane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane, and partial hydrolyzates thereof.
- 190. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane comprises a tetrafunctional silane.
- 191. The method of claim 190, wherein the coating comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 192. The method of claim 190, wherein the coating comprises between about 2% and about 5% by weight of the dried coating of tetrafunctional silane.
- 193. The method of claim 190, wherein the tetrafunctional silane comprises a tetraalkoxysilane.
- 194. The method of claim 190, wherein the tetrafunctional silane is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane and tetra-n-butoxysilane.
- 195. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane.
- 196. The method of claim 195, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded hydrolizable group.
- 197. The method of claim 196, wherein the silicon-bonded hydrolizable group is selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, halogen and aryloxy.
- 198. The method of claim 195, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane contains at least one silicon-bonded vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated group.
- 199. The method of claim 198, wherein the vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane is selected from the group consisting of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltri(2-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltriacetoxysilane, ethynytrimethoxysilane, ethynytriethoxysilane 2-propynyltrimethoxysilanesilane, 2-propynyltriethoxysilanesilane and 2-propynyltrichlorosilane.
- 200. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane comprises a vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated hydrolizble silane of the formula:
- 201. The method of claim 200, wherein the monovalent hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, octyl, decyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, benzyl, phenyl, phenylethyl and naphthyl and their isomers.
- 202. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane comprises a relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer.
- 203. The method of claim 202, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is of the formula:
- 204. The method of claim 202, wherein the relatively low molecular weight vinyl-polymerizable unsaturated polysiloxane oligomer is a cyclic trimer, a cyclic tetramer a linear dimer, a linear trimer, a linear tetramer or a linear pentamer.
- 205. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane.
- 206. A method for low temperature fuel cells utilizing proton exchange membranes, wherein the plate is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a silazane.
- 207. The method of claim 206, wherein the silazane comprises polysilazane.
- 208. The method of claim 206, wherein the silazane comprises hexamethyldisilazane.
- 209. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a bipolar separator plate.
- 210. The method of claim 209, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises metal foil.
- 211. The method of claim 210, wherein the bipolar separator plate comprises stainless steel.
- 212. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is a current collector.
- 213. The method of claim 212, wherein the current collector comprises flat metallic wires.
- 214. The method of claim 213, wherein the current collector comprises stainless steel.
- 215. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is entirely coated with the coating.
- 216. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is partially coated with the coating.
- 217. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is coated only at areas that are in intimate contact with or close proximity to a proton exchange membrane when the metallic fuel cell component is incorporated into a fuel cell comprising the proton exchange membrane.
- 218. The method of claim 172, wherein the metallic fuel cell component is further coated with an additional coating.
- 219. The method of claim 218, wherein the additional coating comprises a polymer.
- 220. The method of claim 219, wherein the polymer is a conductive polymer.
- 221. The method of claim 219, wherein the polymer is a non-conductive polymer.
- 222. The method of claim 219, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to adhere the additional coating to the metallic fuel cell component.
- 223. The method of claim 219, wherein the coating comprising a silane serves to treat the metallic fuel cell component for acceptance of the additional coating.
- 224. The method of claim 219, wherein the coating comprising a silane is sandwiched between the metallic fuel cell component and the additional coating.
- 225. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 226. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 227. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 228. The method of claim 172, wherein the silane is of the formula:
- 229. The method of claim 172, further comprising treating surface(s) of the fuel cell bipolar separator plate with sulfuric acid, rinsing with water, and rinsing with water vapor.
- 230. The method of claim 172, further comprising treating the fuel cell bipolar separator plate surface(s) with treating solvent.
- 231. The method of claim 230, wherein the treating solvent is anhydrous.
- 232. The method of claim 230, wherein the treating solvent is water soluble.
- 233. The method of claim 230, wherein the treating solvent is chosen from the group consisting of xylene and isopropanol.
- 234. The method of claim 172, further comprising immersing the plate in a silane coating liquid comprising silane, dilute acid, and demineralized, deionized water.
- 235. The method of claim 234, wherein the silane coating liquid further comprises silane coating liquid solvent.
- 236. The method of claim 235, wherein the silane coating liquid solvent is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, xylene, and toluene.
- 237. The method of claim 234, wherein the dilute acid comprises dilute acetic acid.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/354,554, filed Feb. 5, 2002, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60354554 |
Feb 2002 |
US |