IP Library Granted Patent US 10,862,137
Granted Patent B2
US 10,862,137 · App. 16/319,551 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Method for producing a current collector for a fuel cell, and fuel cell

Inventors: Andreas Burghardt (Stuttgart, DE); Arne Huber (Boeblingen, DE); Daniel Simon (Stuttgart-Feuerbach, DE); Jens Burghaus (Gerlingen, DE); Juergen Oberle (Sindelfingen, DE); Witold Pieper (Renningen, DE); Maxim Smirnov (Dornstetten, DE)
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
H01M8/0232H01M4/8605H01M8/0202H01M8/0239H01M8/0245
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,862,137
App. No.
16/319,551
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a current collector ( 1 ) for a fuel cell. The method comprises the following steps: mixing a power-type or granulate-type base material ( 2 ) with a binding agent ( 3 ) and with fibres ( 4 ) in order to generate a material mixture ( 5 ), wherein the fibres ( 4 ) have a lower melting point and/or a lower chemical resistance than the base material ( 2 ); moulding a moulded body ( 6 ) from the material mixture ( 5 ); debinding the binding agent ( 3 ) from the moulded body ( 6 ); removing at least one portion of the fibres ( 4 ) from the moulded body ( 6 ); and sintering the moulded body ( 6 ). The invention also relates to a fuel cell having a current collector ( 1 ) that is produced by means of a method according to the invention.

Claims (38)

1. A method for producing a current collector ( 1 ) for a fuel cell, the method having the steps of:

mixing a pulverulent or granular base material ( 2 ) with a binder ( 3 ) and with fibers ( 4 ) to produce a material mixture ( 5 ), wherein the fibers ( 4 ) have a lower melting point than the base material ( 2 ),

shaping a shaped article ( 6 ) from the material mixture ( 5 ),

removing the binder ( 3 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ),

removing at least some of the fibers ( 4 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ), and

sintering the shaped article ( 6 ),

characterized in that the fibers ( 4 ) are admixed and comprise a fibrous material, and the binder ( 3 ) is admixed and has at least two components, wherein at least one of the two components of the binder ( 3 ) comprises a binder material, wherein the fibrous material has a melting point which corresponds or at least substantially corresponds to a melting point of the binder material.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the shaping is performed by means of sinter pressing and/or injection molding and/or a doctor blade and/or a 3D printing method.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers ( 4 ) have a fiber length of between 5 mm and 100 mm.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a binder comprising at least two components is mixed as the binder ( 3 ), wherein a polymer is used as the first component of the binder ( 3 ) and a wax is used as the second component of the binder ( 3 ).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the binder ( 3 ) and/or the fibers ( 4 ) is/are removed at a temperature of between 500° C. and 700° C.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the binder ( 3 ) and/or the fibers ( 4 ) is/are removed using a solvent.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the shaped article ( 6 ) is shaped in strip form and, to produce a predefined shape of current collector ( 1 ), one part is separated from the strip-form shaped article ( 6 ).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the sintering takes place at a temperature of between 1100° C. and 1500° C.

9. A method for producing a fuel cell with at least one anode, at least one cathode, at least one electrolyte arranged between anode and cathode and at least one current collector, characterized in that the at least one current collector ( 1 ) is produced using the method as claimed in claim 1 .

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the sintering takes place at a temperature of between 1250° C. and 1350° C.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers ( 4 ) have both a lower melting point and a lower chemical resistance than the base material ( 2 ).

12. A method for producing a current collector ( 1 ) for a fuel cell, the method having the steps of:

mixing a pulverulent or granular base material ( 2 ) with a binder ( 3 ) and with fibers ( 4 ) to produce a material mixture ( 5 ), wherein the fibers ( 4 ) have a lower melting point than the base material ( 2 ),

shaping a shaped article ( 6 ) from the material mixture ( 5 ),

removing the binder ( 3 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ),

removing at least some of the fibers ( 4 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ), and

sintering the shaped article ( 6 ), characterized in that a binder comprising at least two components is mixed as the binder ( 3 ), wherein a polymer is used as the first component of the binder ( 3 ) and a wax is used as the second component of the binder ( 3 ).

13. A method for producing a current collector ( 1 ) for a fuel cell, the method having the steps of:

mixing a pulverulent or granular base material ( 2 ) with a binder ( 3 ) and with fibers ( 4 ) to produce a material mixture ( 5 ), wherein the fibers ( 4 ) have a lower chemical resistance than the base material ( 2 ),

shaping a shaped article ( 6 ) from the material mixture ( 5 ),

removing the binder ( 3 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ),

removing at least some of the fibers ( 4 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ), and

sintering the shaped article ( 6 ),

characterized in that the fibers ( 4 ) are admixed and comprise a fibrous material, and the binder ( 3 ) is admixed and has at least two components, wherein at least one of the two components of the binder ( 3 ) comprises a binder material, wherein the fibrous material has the same polarity as the binder material.

14. A method for producing a current collector ( 1 ) for a fuel cell, the method having the steps of:

mixing a pulverulent or granular base material ( 2 ) with a binder ( 3 ) and with fibers ( 4 ) to produce a material mixture ( 5 ), wherein the fibers ( 4 ) have a lower chemical resistance than the base material ( 2 ),

shaping a shaped article ( 6 ) from the material mixture ( 5 ),

removing the binder ( 3 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ),

removing at least some of the fibers ( 4 ) from the shaped article ( 6 ), and

sintering the shaped article ( 6 ),

characterized in that a binder comprising at least two components is mixed as the binder ( 3 ), wherein a polymer is used as the first component of the binder ( 3 ) and a wax is used as the second component of the binder ( 3 ).

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that a binder comprising at least two components is mixed as the binder ( 3 ), wherein a polymer is used as the first component of the binder ( 3 ) and a wax is used as the second component of the binder ( 3 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2019
From: BURGHARDT, ANDREAS; HUBER, ARNE; SIMON, DANIEL; BURGHAUS, JENS; OBERLE, JUERGEN; PIEPER, WITOLD; SMIRNOV, MAXIM
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 048085/0037 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2016 213 537 · Jul 25, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190237774A1 · Aug 1, 2019