Fuel cells incorporating silica fibers

1. A method of fabricating a fuel cell, the method comprising:

providing an electrolyte layer;

providing a first catalyst layer being configured to receive a hydrogen-containing fuel, oxidize hydrogen from the fuel, and supply protons to the electrolyte layer;

providing a second catalyst layer being configured to receive protons from the electrolyte layer, receive oxygen, and reduce the oxygen to form water to thereby enable the production of electrical current by the fuel cell;

disposing the first catalyst layer on an anode side of the electrolyte layer; and

disposing the second catalyst layer on a cathode side of the electrolyte layer,

wherein (i) the first catalyst layer comprises a first sheet of silica fibers, the first catalyst layer being provided at least in part by (a) producing a first sol-gel from an initial sol containing 75% to 90% tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by weight, 8% to 25% ethanol by weight, an acid catalyst, and the balance water, and (b) electrospinning the first sol-gel, and/or (ii) the second catalyst layer comprises a second sheet of silica fibers, the second catalyst layer being provided at least in part by (a) producing a second sol-gel from an initial sol containing 75% to 90% TEOS by weight, 8% to 25% ethanol by weight, an acid catalyst, and the balance water, and (b) electrospinning the second sol-gel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first catalyst layer or the second catalyst layer incorporates a catalyst material.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the catalyst material comprises at least one of platinum, one or more platinum-group metals, nickel, ruthenium, palladium, cerium oxide, or an alloy of platinum with one or more other metals.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein (i) providing the first catalyst layer comprises, after and/or during the electrospinning, incorporating a catalyst material onto the first sheet of silica fibers, and/or (ii) providing the second catalyst layer comprises, after and/or during the electrospinning, incorporating a catalyst material onto the second sheet of silica fibers.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating one or more catalyst materials, or precursors thereof, into the first sol-gel prior to electrospinning thereof, wherein the first sheet of silica fibers comprises the one or more catalyst materials incorporated therein and/or thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating one or more catalyst materials, or precursors thereof, into the second sol-gel prior to electrospinning thereof, wherein the second sheet of silica fibers comprises the one or more catalyst materials incorporated therein and/or thereon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte layer comprises a fluoropolymer, potassium hydroxide, and/or phosphoric acid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte layer comprises a non-silica membrane.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disposing a first diffusion layer on the first catalyst layer opposite the electrolyte layer, the first diffusion layer being configured to transport the hydrogen-containing fuel to the first catalyst layer; and/or

disposing a second diffusion layer on the second catalyst layer opposite the electrolyte layer, the second diffusion layer being configured to transport oxygen to the second catalyst layer.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first diffusion layer comprises a third sheet of silica fibers, the first diffusion layer being provided at least in part by electrospinning a third sol-gel; and/or

wherein the second diffusion layer comprises a fourth sheet of silica fibers, the second diffusion layer being provided at least in part by electrospinning a fourth sol-gel.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein producing at least one of the first sol-gel or the second sol-gel comprises ripening the initial sol for at least 2 days at a humidity of 40% to 80% and a temperature of 50° F. to 90° F.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the initial sol is ripened for at least 3 days.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first sol-gel or the second sol-gel is electrospun when the weight thereof ranges from 10% to 60% of a starting weight of the initial sol prior to ripening.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first sol-gel or the second sol-gel is electrospun when production of ethylene vapor therefrom ranges from 10% to 40% relative to the initial sol prior to ripening.

15. A method of fabricating a fuel cell, the method comprising:

providing an electrolyte layer, the electrolyte layer being free of silica fibers;

providing a first catalyst layer being configured to receive a hydrogen-containing fuel, oxidize hydrogen from the fuel, and supply protons to the electrolyte layer;

providing a second catalyst layer being configured to receive protons from the electrolyte layer, receive oxygen, and reduce the oxygen to form water to thereby enable the production of electrical current by the fuel cell;

disposing the first catalyst layer on and in direct contact with an anode side of the electrolyte layer; and

disposing the second catalyst layer on and in direct contact with a cathode side of the electrolyte layer,

wherein (i) the first catalyst layer comprises a first sheet of silica fibers, the first catalyst layer being provided at least in part by electrospinning a first sol-gel, and/or (ii) the second catalyst layer comprises a second sheet of silica fibers, the second catalyst layer being provided at least in part by electrospinning a second sol-gel.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, for at least one of the first sol-gel or the second sol-gel, prior to electrospinning the sol-gel, producing the sol-gel from an initial sol containing 75% to 90% tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by weight, 8% to 25% ethanol by weight, an acid catalyst, and the balance water.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electrolyte layer is porous and non-fibrous.