Fuel cell and fuel cell manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention discloses a fuel cell and a manufacturing method of the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes two fixing parts, a plurality of electrode plates, a plurality of inner titanium mesh structures, a plurality of outer titanium mesh structures, a plurality of membrane electrode groups, a plurality of catalyst layers, and a plurality of sealing rings. An inner titanium mesh structure is fixed on one side of each electrode plate by diffusion welding technology. Each inner titanium mesh structure and the electrode plate together form a plurality of flow channels. An inner titanium mesh structure is fixed on the other side of part of the electrode plate by diffusion welding technology. An outer titanium mesh structure is fixed on the other side of each inner titanium mesh structure. A catalyst layer is provided on one side of each outer titanium mesh structure. Each membrane electrode group is located between two outer titanium mesh structures, and each outer titanium mesh structure serves as a gas diffusion layer.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell, particularly a fuel cell without carbon cloth and a method for manufacturing the same. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Existing common fuel cells use carbon cloth as a gas diffusion layer, and the carbon cloth, electrode plates and membrane electrode assembly are only in contact with each other. Therefore, after long-term use, the carbon cloth is prone to corrosion, which will lead to an increase in the contact resistance between the carbon cloth and the electrode plates, thereby reducing the power generation capacity of the fuel cell. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] This invention discloses a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell, mainly to improve the problem that existing fuel cells with carbon cloth are prone to corrosion after long-term use, which leads to a decrease in the power generation capacity of the fuel cell.

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a fuel cell, comprising: multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, multiple outer titanium mesh structures, multiple catalyst layers, multiple membrane electrode assemblies, multiple sealing rings, and two fixing members. Two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell are defined as outer electrode plates, each outer electrode plate having a planar wide side surface. The remaining electrode plates are defined as inner electrode plates, each inner electrode plate having two opposite wide sides planar. Each electrode plate has an inlet perforation and an outlet perforation, each inlet perforation penetrating the electrode plate, and each outlet perforation penetrating the electrode plate. One wide side surface of each outer electrode plate is fixed to an inner titanium mesh structure using diffusion welding technology, and the two wide sides surface of each inner electrode plate are respectively fixed to an inner titanium mesh structure using diffusion welding technology. Each inner titanium mesh structure comprises multiple titanium wires, and multiple segments at different positions of each titanium wire... The inner titanium mesh structures are arranged in an overlapping manner with different titanium wires, each containing multiple mesh openings. Multiple sections of each titanium wire are fused to the electrode plate at different locations, while sections of each titanium wire not fused to the electrode plate are stacked on one side of another titanium wire. These non-fused sections, together with the electrode plate, form multiple flow channels. The multiple flow channels, inlet perforations, and outlet perforations of each electrode plate are interconnected. Each outer titanium mesh structure is fixed to one of the inner titanium mesh structures on the opposite side from the electrode plate using diffusion welding technology. Each outer titanium mesh structure contains multiple auxiliary titanium wires, with multiple sections of each auxiliary titanium wire overlapping with different auxiliary titanium wires. The structure includes multiple mesh openings, with the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each inner titanium mesh structure being larger than the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each outer titanium mesh structure. Multiple sections of each auxiliary titanium wire are fused to one section of one of the multiple titanium wires contained in the inner titanium mesh structure. At the connection points between each electrode plate and the titanium wire, a conductive path can be established through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. Each catalyst layer is disposed in at least a portion of one outer titanium mesh structure, at least a portion of one inner titanium mesh structure, and on one side of one electrode plate where the inner titanium mesh structure is disposed. Multiple membrane electrode assemblies are disposed between two outer titanium mesh structures. A sealing ring is provided between each electrode plate and the membrane electrode assembly. The periphery of each inner titanium mesh structure and the periphery of each outer titanium mesh structure are surrounded by sealing rings; the inlet and outlet perforations of each electrode plate are located within the area enclosed by the sealing rings; each fixing member has a perforation that penetrates the fixing member; two fixing members hold multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, multiple outer titanium mesh structures, multiple catalyst layers, multiple membrane electrode assemblies, and multiple sealing rings, and the multiple inlet perforations together form an inlet channel, the perforation of one fixing member is connected to the inlet channel, the multiple outlet perforations together form an exit channel, the perforation of the other fixing member is connected to the exit channel, and the multiple flow channels, inlet channels, and exit channels formed by each electrode plate and the inner titanium mesh structure are interconnected.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a fuel cell, which is used to manufacture a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, multiple outer titanium mesh structures, multiple catalyst layers, multiple membrane electrode assemblies, and two fixing members. The two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell are respectively defined as an outer electrode plate, and the remaining electrode plates are respectively defined as an inner electrode plate. Each inner titanium mesh structure includes multiple titanium wires, and multiple segments at different positions of each titanium wire are respectively arranged to overlap with different titanium wires. Each inner titanium mesh structure includes multiple mesh openings. Each outer titanium mesh structure includes multiple inner titanium mesh openings. The titanium mesh structure comprises multiple auxiliary titanium wires, with segments at different positions on each auxiliary titanium wire overlapping with different auxiliary titanium wires. Each outer titanium mesh structure contains multiple mesh openings, and the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each inner titanium mesh structure is larger than the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each outer titanium mesh structure. The fuel cell manufacturing method includes the following steps: an outer electrode plate manufacturing step: using diffusion welding technology, an inner titanium mesh structure is fixed to one side of each outer electrode plate, and an outer titanium mesh structure is fixed to the side of the inner titanium mesh structure opposite to the outer electrode plate. Each outer electrode plate and titanium... At the connection points of the wires, a conductive path can be established through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. Sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the outer electrode plate are stacked on one side of another titanium wire, and these sections, together with the outer electrode plate, form multiple flow channels. The manufacturing steps for an inner electrode plate are as follows: using diffusion welding technology, an inner titanium mesh structure is fixed to one side of each inner electrode plate, and an outer titanium mesh structure is fixed to the side opposite to the inner electrode plate. At the connection points between each inner electrode plate and the titanium wires, a conductive path can be established through at least one titanium wire and... Multiple auxiliary titanium wires jointly establish a conductive path. The sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the inner electrode plate are stacked on one side of another titanium wire, and the sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the inner electrode plate together with the inner electrode plate form multiple flow channels. A catalyst layer formation step: a catalyst layer is deposited on one side of each outer titanium mesh structure, each inner titanium mesh structure, and the electrode plate fixed thereto. An assembly step: two fixing members are fixed to each other so that multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, and multiple membrane electrode assemblies are held by the two fixing members; wherein, each membrane electrode assembly is located between two inner titanium mesh structures.

[0006] In summary, the fuel cell and fuel cell manufacturing method of the present invention, by fixing the inner titanium mesh structure and the outer titanium mesh structure to the electrode plate using diffusion welding technology, and by forming the catalyst layer on the surface of the outer titanium mesh structure, the surface of the inner titanium mesh structure, and the surface of the electrode plate, allows the multiple conductive paths established by each electrode plate, multiple titanium wires, and multiple auxiliary titanium wires to maintain electrical conductivity even after long-term use, thereby maintaining the operating efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0007] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, these descriptions and drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention in any way.

Implementation Method

[0019] In the following description, if it is indicated that a specific drawing is referred to or shown in a specific drawing, it is only to emphasize that most of the relevant content mentioned in the following description appears in that specific drawing, but it does not limit the following description to referring only to that specific drawing. The dimensions and proportions of the various structures presented in the drawings of this embodiment are only drawn for the convenience of the description, and the dimensions and proportions drawn in the drawings do not represent the actual dimensions and proportions in actual application.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2 together, which respectively show a perspective view and an exploded view of the fuel cell of the present invention. The fuel cell 100 of the present invention includes three electrode plates, four inner titanium mesh structures 3, four outer titanium mesh structures 4, four catalyst layers 5, two membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) 6, four sealing rings 7, and two fixing members 8A and 8B. The two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell 100 are defined as an outer electrode plate 1, and the remaining electrode plates are defined as an inner electrode plate 2. In the drawings of this embodiment, for ease of explanation, only a single inner electrode plate 2 is shown, but in actual applications, the number of inner electrode plates 2 is not limited to a single piece.

[0021] Please refer to Figure 3, which shows a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 and the outer titanium mesh structure 4. Each inner titanium mesh structure 3 contains multiple titanium wires 31, and multiple segments at different positions of each titanium wire 31 are respectively arranged to overlap with different titanium wires 31. Each inner titanium mesh structure 3 contains multiple mesh openings 32. Simply put, each inner titanium mesh structure 3 is a three-dimensional woven mesh structure formed by multiple titanium wires 31 interwoven with each other.

[0022] Each outer titanium mesh structure 4 includes multiple auxiliary titanium wires 41. Multiple sections of each auxiliary titanium wire 41 are arranged in an overlapping manner with different auxiliary titanium wires 41. Each outer titanium mesh structure 4 includes multiple mesh openings 42. Simply put, each outer titanium mesh structure 4 is a three-dimensional woven mesh structure formed by the interweaving of multiple auxiliary titanium wires 41. The maximum aperture of the mesh openings 32 included in each inner titanium mesh structure 3 is larger than the maximum aperture of the mesh openings 42 included in each outer titanium mesh structure 4. The weaving method of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 and the outer titanium mesh structure 4 is not limited to that shown in Figure 3 and can be varied according to requirements in practical applications.

[0023] In one embodiment, the maximum aperture of each mesh 32 of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 can be 2 to 20 times the maximum aperture of each mesh 42 of each outer titanium mesh structure 4. In one embodiment, the aperture of each mesh 32 of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 can be between 0.1 and 1.0 mm, while the aperture of each mesh 42 of each outer titanium mesh structure 4 can be between 0.05 and 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, the overall dimensions of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 and the overall dimensions of each outer titanium mesh structure 4 are the same (i.e., the overall width and length of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 are the same as the overall width and length of the outer titanium mesh structure 4), and the mesh count of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 is between 50 and 500 meshes, while the mesh count of each outer titanium mesh structure is between 80 and 5000 meshes. In one embodiment, the overall dimensions of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 and each outer titanium mesh structure 4 are the same (i.e., the overall width and length of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 are the same as the overall width and length of the outer titanium mesh structure 4), and the number of mesh openings contained in each inner titanium mesh structure is 1.6 to 100 times the number of mesh openings contained in each outer titanium mesh structure.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 2, 4 to 6 together. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of the outer electrode, sealing ring, outer titanium mesh structure and auxiliary titanium mesh. Figure 5 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fuel cell of the present invention. Each outer electrode plate 1 has a wide side 11 that is planar. The wide side 11 of the outer electrode plate 1 is fused with an inner titanium mesh structure 3 and an outer titanium mesh structure 4 using diffusion bonding technology. Multiple sections of each titanium wire 31 are fused with the outer electrode plate 1 at different positions. Sections of each titanium wire 31 that are not fused with the outer electrode plate 1 are stacked on one side of another titanium wire 31. The sections of each titanium wire 31 that are not fused with the outer electrode plate 1 together with the outer electrode plate 1 form multiple flow channels C (as shown in Figure 6). Multiple sections of each auxiliary titanium wire 41 are fused with the titanium wire 31 at different positions. The sections of each auxiliary titanium wire 41 that are not fused with the titanium wire 31 are stacked on one side of another auxiliary titanium wire 41. The positions where each outer electrode plate 1 is connected to each titanium wire 31 can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium wire 31 and multiple auxiliary titanium wires 41.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the two opposite wide sides 21 of each inner electrode plate 2 are planar, and each wide side 21 of each inner electrode plate 2 is fused to an inner titanium mesh structure 3 and an outer titanium mesh structure 4 using diffusion welding technology. Multiple sections of each titanium wire 31 at different positions are fused to the inner electrode plate 2, while sections of each titanium wire 31 that are not fused to the inner electrode plate 2 are overlapped on one side of another titanium wire 31. The sections of line 31 that are not fused to the inner electrode plate 2 together with the inner electrode plate 2 form multiple flow channels C (as shown in Figure 6). Sections of each auxiliary titanium line 41 at multiple different positions are fused to the titanium line 31. The sections of each auxiliary titanium line 41 that are not fused to the titanium line 31 are stacked on one side of another auxiliary titanium line 41. The positions where each inner electrode plate 2 is connected to each titanium line 31 can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium line 31 and multiple auxiliary titanium lines 41.

[0026] Specifically, a portion of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 is used to form multiple flow channels C together with the wide side surfaces 21 of each inner electrode plate 2, and another portion of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 is used to form multiple flow channels C together with the wide side surfaces 21 of each outer electrode plate 1. The wide side surfaces 11 of each outer electrode plate 1 and the wide side surfaces 21 of each inner electrode plate 2 do not require additional flow channel forming processing. Each outer titanium mesh structure 4 is used as a gas diffusion layer, and each outer titanium mesh structure 4 replaces the carbon cloth in a conventional fuel cell 100.

[0027] In one preferred embodiment, the material of each outer electrode plate 1 and each inner electrode plate 2 may include titanium, and each outer electrode plate 1 and each inner electrode plate 2 may be, for example, a titanium alloy plate or a pure titanium plate. This strengthens the connection strength at the fusion points between each titanium wire 31 and the electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1, inner electrode plate 2), and also strengthens the connection strength at the fusion points between each auxiliary titanium wire 41 and each titanium wire 31. This makes it less prone to breakage at the fusion points between each titanium wire 31 and the electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1, inner electrode plate 2) and at the fusion points between each titanium wire 31 and the auxiliary titanium wire 41. In other embodiments, the material of each outer electrode plate 1 and each inner electrode plate 2 may also be stainless steel.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, a portion of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 is provided with a catalyst layer 5, a portion of each outer titanium mesh structure 4 is provided with a catalyst layer 5, and a portion of the side surface of each outer electrode plate 1 and a portion of the side surface of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 are also provided with a catalyst layer 5. In different embodiments, the catalyst layer 5 may be formed only on the side of the outer titanium mesh structure 4 opposite to the inner titanium mesh structure 3. In practical applications, the catalyst layer 5 may, for example, contain materials such as platinum, gold, or iridium oxide, and is not limited thereto.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 6, each membrane electrode assembly 6 is disposed between two outer titanium mesh structures 4, and the opposite sides of each membrane electrode assembly 6 are in contact with the adjacent outer titanium mesh structure 4. A sealing ring 7 is provided between each membrane electrode assembly 6 and the adjacent outer electrode plate 1 or inner electrode plate 2, and the periphery of each inner titanium mesh structure 3 is surrounded by the sealing ring 7, and the periphery of each outer titanium mesh structure 4 is surrounded by the sealing ring 7. The sealing ring 7 is mainly used to restrict the flow range of gas and liquid after reaction. The number and shape of the sealing ring 7 provided between each membrane electrode assembly 6 and the adjacent outer electrode plate 1 or inner electrode plate 2 are not limited to those shown in the figures, and can be varied according to requirements.

[0030] Two fasteners 8A and 8B are used to hold multiple electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2), multiple inner titanium mesh structures 3, multiple outer titanium mesh structures 4, multiple catalyst layers 5, multiple membrane electrode assemblies 6, and multiple sealing rings 7. In practical applications, the two fasteners 8A and 8B can be fixed to each other using multiple screws, but are not limited to this.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2, 4, 7, and 8, each outer electrode plate 1 also includes an inlet perforation 12 and an outlet perforation 13, which are respectively disposed through the outer electrode plate 1. Each inner electrode plate 2 also includes an inlet perforation 22 and an outlet perforation 23, which are respectively disposed through the inner electrode plate 2. Each inlet perforation 12, 22 and each outlet perforation 13, 23 is located within the area enclosed by the sealing ring 7. That is to say, each inner titanium mesh structure 3 and each outer titanium mesh structure 4 is interconnected with the adjacent inlet perforation 12, 22 or outlet perforation 13, 23, without the sealing ring 7 being provided.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9, the two fasteners 8A and 8B each have a through hole 8A1 and 8B1, which pass through the two fasteners 8A and 8B respectively. After the two fasteners 8A and 8B hold multiple electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2), the multiple inlet through holes 12 and 22 will jointly form an inlet channel P1, and the multiple outlet through holes 13 and 23 will jointly form an exit channel P2. The inlet channel P1 and the exit channel P2 are interconnected with the multiple flow channels formed by the various electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2) and the inner titanium mesh structure 3, and the two through holes 8A1 and 8B1 are respectively connected to the inlet channel P1 and the exit channel P2.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 and 7 to 10, in a preferred embodiment, the shape of each inlet perforation 12, 22 can be approximately trapezoidal. Each inlet perforation 12, 22 has a long side L1, a short side L2, and two oblique sides L3. The two ends of the long side L1 are connected to the two oblique sides L3, and the two ends of the short side L2 are connected to the two oblique sides L3. The long side L1 of each inlet perforation 12, 22 is adjacent to the short side L2 of the inner titanium mesh structure 3. The outlet perforations 13 and 23 are configured such that each outlet perforation 13 and 23 has a long side L4, a short side L5, and two oblique sides L6. The two ends of the long side L4 of the outlet perforations 13 and 23 are connected to the two oblique sides L6 of the outlet perforations 13 and 23, and the two ends of the short side L5 of the outlet perforations 13 and 23 are connected to the two oblique sides L6 of the outlet perforations 13 and 23. The long side L4 of each outlet perforation 13 and 23 is located adjacent to a short side L5 of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 and the outer titanium mesh structure 4.

[0034] Each fastener 8A and 8B may have a guide structure 81, which forms the through holes 8A1 and 8B1. The guide structure 81 has a guide channel that is connected to the through holes 8A1 and 8B1. The two guide channels are defined as an entry guide channel 81A and an exit guide channel 81B, respectively. One end of the entry guide channel 81A is connected to the entry channel P1, and the width of the entry guide channel 81A gradually increases from the end near the through holes 8A1 and 8B1 toward the entry channel P1. One end of the exit guide channel 81B is connected to the exit channel P2, and the width of the exit guide channel 81B gradually increases from the end near the through holes 8A1 and 8B1 toward the exit channel P2.

[0035] As described above, by making the shapes of each inlet perforation 12, 22 and each outlet perforation 13, 23 conform to the above description, and by making the width of the inlet guide channel 81A and the width of the outlet guide channel 81B conform to the changes described above, and by using diffusion welding technology to fix the inner titanium mesh structure 3 to the outer electrode plate 1, thereby forming multiple flow channels C on the outer electrode plate 1, the gas can flow better to each area of ​​the electrode plate, thus making the fuel cell 100 have better power generation efficiency.

[0036] As described above, the fuel cell 100 of the present invention utilizes diffusion welding technology to fix the inner titanium mesh structure 3 to one side of the electrode plate (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2), thereby forming a design of multiple flow channels C on one side of the electrode plate (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2). This design eliminates the need for additional flow channel forming processing procedures on the electrode plate, thus simplifying the manufacturing process of the fuel cell 100 and reducing the production cost of the fuel cell.

[0037] In addition, the fuel cell 100 of the present invention uses an outer titanium mesh structure 4 to replace the carbon cloth (gas diffusion layer) in conventional fuel cells, and uses diffusion welding technology to fix the inner titanium mesh structure 3 to one side of the electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1 and inner electrode plate 2). The design of fixing the outer titanium mesh structure 4 to one side of the inner titanium mesh structure 3 will make some sections of the multiple titanium wires 31 contained in the inner titanium mesh structure 3 fused to each other with the outer electrode plate 1 or the inner electrode plate 2, and some sections of the multiple auxiliary titanium wires 41 fused to each other with the multiple titanium wires 31. Therefore, after long-term use, the contact resistance between the inner titanium mesh structure 3, the outer titanium mesh structure 4 and each electrode plate of the fuel cell 100 of the present invention can still be maintained in a relatively good state.

[0038] On the contrary, in conventional fuel cells, since the carbon cloth and the electrode plate are only in physical contact (the two only touch each other), after a long period of use, the carbon cloth is prone to erosion in some areas, which will cause the area to lose conductivity. This will increase the contact resistance between the carbon cloth and the electrode plate, thereby affecting the overall operating efficiency of the fuel cell.

[0039] In other words, after prolonged use, most of the multiple conductive paths established by the various electrode plates (outer electrode plate 1, inner electrode plate 2) and the inner titanium mesh structure 3 and outer titanium mesh structure 4 fixed to them will remain in a state where they can still conduct normally. In contrast, in conventional fuel cells, after prolonged use, the areas where the carbon cloth is eroded will cause some conductive paths to fail.

[0040] Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that one side of the carbon cloth in conventional fuel cells is usually coated with a catalyst, which makes the overall manufacturing cost of the carbon cloth relatively expensive. In contrast, the manufacturing cost of the outer titanium mesh structure 4 and the catalyst layer 5 included in the fuel cell 100 of the present invention is relatively cheap, and the fuel cell 100 of the present invention also has the advantage of relatively low manufacturing cost compared to conventional fuel cells.

[0041] Please refer to Figure 11, which shows a schematic flowchart of the fuel cell manufacturing method of the present invention. The fuel cell manufacturing method of the present invention is used to manufacture a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, multiple outer titanium mesh structures, multiple catalyst layers, multiple sealing rings, multiple membrane electrode assemblies, and two fixing members. The two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell are defined as an outer electrode plate, and the remaining electrode plates are defined as an inner electrode plate. For detailed descriptions of the electrode plates, inner titanium mesh structures, outer titanium mesh structures, catalyst layers, sealing rings, membrane electrode assemblies, and fixing members described in this embodiment, please refer to the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0042] The method for manufacturing a fuel cell includes the following steps:

[0043] One outer electrode plate manufacturing step S1: Using diffusion welding technology, an inner titanium mesh structure is fixed on one side of each outer electrode plate, and an outer titanium mesh structure is fixed on the opposite side of the inner titanium mesh structure. The position where each outer electrode plate is connected to the titanium wire can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. The section of each titanium wire that is not fused with the outer electrode plate is stacked on one side of another titanium wire. The section of each titanium wire that is not fused with the outer electrode plate and the outer electrode plate together form multiple flow channels.

[0044] Inner electrode plate manufacturing step S2: Using diffusion welding technology, an inner titanium mesh structure is fixed on one side of each inner electrode plate, and an outer titanium mesh structure is fixed on the opposite side of the inner titanium mesh structure. The position where each inner electrode plate is connected to the titanium wire can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. The section of each titanium wire that is not fused with the inner electrode plate is stacked on one side of another titanium wire. The section of each titanium wire that is not fused with the inner electrode plate and the inner electrode plate together form multiple flow channels.

[0045] Step S3: A catalyst layer is deposited on one side of each outer titanium mesh structure, each inner titanium mesh structure and the electrode plate fixed thereto.

[0046] Assembly step S4: Fix the two fasteners to each other so that multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, and multiple membrane electrode groups are held by the two fasteners; wherein, each membrane electrode group is located between two inner titanium mesh structures.

[0047] In practical applications, in the outer electrode plate manufacturing step S1, the outer electrode plate can be first placed on the platform of the diffusion welding equipment, then the inner titanium mesh structure can be placed on the outer electrode plate, and the outer titanium mesh structure can be placed on the side of the inner titanium mesh structure opposite to the outer electrode plate. Finally, diffusion welding technology can be used to fuse different sections of each titanium wire of the inner titanium mesh structure with the outer electrode plate, and to fuse different sections of each auxiliary titanium wire of the outer titanium mesh structure with each titanium wire.

[0048] In practical applications, in the inner electrode plate manufacturing step S2, for example, diffusion welding technology can be used to weld and fix an inner titanium mesh structure and an outer titanium mesh structure to one side of the inner electrode plate, and then diffusion welding technology can be used to weld and fix another inner titanium mesh structure and another outer titanium mesh structure to the other side of the inner electrode plate.

[0049] In practical applications, in the catalyst layer formation step S3, the catalyst layer may be plated only on one side of each outer titanium mesh structure, or the electrode plate with the outer titanium mesh structure and the inner titanium mesh structure fixed may be directly placed in the electroplating tank for electroplating.

[0050] In practical applications, in assembly step S4, for example, multiple screws and multiple nuts can be used to lock the two fasteners together, but the fastening method of the two fasteners is not limited to this. In addition, assembly step S4 also includes the step of setting a sealing ring between the membrane electrode assembly and the adjacent electrode plate.

[0051] As described above, the fuel cell manufacturing method of the present invention has the advantages of simple manufacturing process and relatively low manufacturing cost compared with the traditional fuel cell manufacturing method containing carbon cloth.

[0052] In summary, the fuel cell of the present invention, by fixing the inner titanium mesh structure to one side of the electrode plate using diffusion welding technology to form multiple flow channels on one side of the electrode plate, and by using the outer titanium mesh structure as a gas diffusion layer and fusing the outer titanium mesh structure, the inner titanium mesh structure, and the electrode plate together using diffusion welding technology, ensures that the contact resistance between the outer titanium mesh structure, the inner titanium mesh structure, and the electrode plate does not increase significantly after long-term use. This allows the fuel cell to maintain relatively good operating efficiency, and the overall service life of the fuel cell of the present invention is greater than that of conventional fuel cells using carbon cloth as a gas diffusion layer. The manufacturing method of the fuel cell of the present invention, by using diffusion welding technology to fuse and fix the inner titanium mesh structure to one side of the electrode plate to form multiple flow channels on one side of the electrode plate, by using diffusion welding technology to fix the outer titanium mesh structure (replacing conventional carbon cloth) to the electrode plate, and by electroplating to deposit a catalyst layer on the outer titanium mesh structure, effectively reduces the manufacturing cost of the fuel cell.

[0053] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made based on the description and drawings of the present invention are included within the protection scope of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0008] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the inner titanium mesh structure and the outer titanium mesh structure of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the outer electrode plate, outer titanium mesh structure, inner titanium mesh structure and sealing ring of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of Figure 4.

[0013] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 along section line VI-VI.

[0014] Figure 7 is a front view of the inner electrode plate, outer titanium mesh structure and inner titanium mesh structure of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the fuel cell of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 along section line XX.

[0018] Figure 11 is a schematic flowchart of the manufacturing method of the fuel cell of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel cell comprising: a plurality of electrode plates, wherein two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell are respectively defined as an outer electrode plate, one wide side of each outer electrode plate is planar, and the remaining electrode plates are respectively defined as inner electrode plates, the two opposite wide sides of each inner electrode plate being planar; each electrode plate having an inlet perforation and an outlet perforation, each inlet perforation penetrating the electrode plate, and each outlet perforation penetrating the electrode plate; Multiple inner titanium mesh structures are provided. One wide side of each outer electrode plate is fixed to one of the inner titanium mesh structures using diffusion welding technology. Two wide sides of each inner electrode plate are respectively fixed to one of the inner titanium mesh structures using diffusion welding technology. Each inner titanium mesh structure includes multiple titanium wires. Multiple segments of each titanium wire at different positions are overlapped with different titanium wires. Each inner titanium mesh structure includes multiple mesh openings. Multiple segments of each titanium wire at different positions are fused to the electrode plate. Segments of each titanium wire not fused to the electrode plate are overlapped on one side of another titanium wire. The segments of each titanium wire not fused to the electrode plate and the electrode plate together form multiple flow channels. The multiple flow channels, inlet perforations, and outlet perforations of each electrode plate are interconnected. Multiple outer titanium mesh structures are provided, each fixed to one of the inner titanium mesh structures on the opposite side from the electrode plate using diffusion welding technology. Each outer titanium mesh structure includes multiple auxiliary titanium wires, with multiple segments of each auxiliary titanium wire overlapping different auxiliary titanium wires. Each outer titanium mesh structure includes multiple mesh openings, and the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each inner titanium mesh structure is larger than the maximum aperture of the mesh openings in each outer titanium mesh structure. Multiple segments of each auxiliary titanium wire are fused to one segment of the multiple titanium wires included in the inner titanium mesh structure. At the connection points between each electrode plate and the titanium wires, a conductive path can be established through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. Multiple catalyst layers are provided on at least a portion of one of the outer titanium mesh structures, at least a portion of one of the inner titanium mesh structures, and on the side of one of the electrode plates where the inner titanium mesh structure is located. Multiple membrane electrode assemblies are provided between two of the outer titanium mesh structures. Multiple sealing rings are provided between each of the electrode plates and the membrane electrode assembly, and the periphery of each of the inner titanium mesh structures and the periphery of each of the outer titanium mesh structures are surrounded by the sealing rings; the inlet perforation and the outlet perforation of each of the electrode plates are located within the area enclosed by the sealing rings; two fixing members are provided, each of the fixing members having a through hole that penetrates the fixing member;Two fixing members hold multiple electrode plates, multiple inner titanium mesh structures, multiple outer titanium mesh structures, multiple catalyst layers, multiple membrane electrode assemblies, and multiple sealing rings. Multiple inlet perforations together form an inlet channel, with one of the fixing members' perforations communicating with the inlet channel. Multiple outlet perforations together form an exit channel, with the other fixing member's perforation communicating with the exit channel. The multiple flow channels formed by the electrode plates and the inner titanium mesh structures, the inlet channel, and the exit channel are interconnected.

2. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The aperture of each mesh of each inner titanium mesh structure is between 0.1 and 1.0 mm, and the aperture of each mesh of each outer titanium mesh structure is between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.

3. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The maximum aperture of each mesh of each inner titanium mesh structure is 2 to 20 times the maximum aperture of each mesh of each outer titanium mesh structure.

4. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The overall dimensions of each inner titanium mesh structure and each outer titanium mesh structure are the same, and the mesh count of each inner titanium mesh structure is between 50 and 500 meshes, while the mesh count of each outer titanium mesh structure is between 80 and 5000 meshes.

5. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The overall dimensions of each inner titanium mesh structure and each outer titanium mesh structure are the same, and the number of mesh openings contained in each inner titanium mesh structure is 1.6 to 100 times the number of mesh openings contained in each outer titanium mesh structure.

6. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The electrode plates are made of titanium or stainless steel; the catalyst layer is made of platinum, gold or iridium oxide.

7. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each of the inlet perforations has a long side, a short side, and two oblique sides. The two ends of the long side are connected to the two oblique sides, and the two ends of the short side are connected to the two oblique sides. The long side of each inlet perforation is located adjacent to a short side of the inner titanium mesh structure. Each of the outlet perforations has a long side, a short side, and two oblique sides. The two ends of the long side of the outlet perforation are connected to the two oblique sides of the outlet perforation, and the two ends of the short side of the outlet perforation are connected to the two oblique sides of the outlet perforation. The long side of each outlet perforation is located adjacent to a short side of the inner titanium mesh structure.

8. The fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each of the aforementioned fasteners has a guide structure, the guide structure having the through hole, and a guide channel within the guide structure, the guide channel being connected to the through hole; the two guide channels are respectively defined as an entry guide channel and an exit guide channel; one end of the entry guide channel is connected to the entry channel, and the width of the entry guide channel gradually increases from the end near the through hole towards the entry channel; one end of the exit guide channel is connected to the exit channel, and the width of the exit guide channel gradually increases from the end near the through hole towards the exit channel.

9. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising a plurality of electrode plates, a plurality of inner titanium mesh structures, a plurality of outer titanium mesh structures, a plurality of catalyst layers, a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies, and two fixing members, wherein the two electrode plates located at both ends of the fuel cell are defined as an outer electrode plate, and the remaining electrode plates are defined as inner electrode plates; each inner titanium mesh structure comprises a plurality of titanium wires, wherein multiple segments at different positions of each titanium wire are respectively arranged overlapping with different titanium wires, and each inner titanium mesh structure comprises a plurality of mesh openings; each outer titanium mesh structure comprises a plurality of auxiliary titanium wires, wherein multiple segments at different positions of each auxiliary titanium wire are respectively arranged overlapping with different auxiliary titanium wires, and each outer titanium mesh structure comprises a plurality of mesh openings, wherein the maximum pore size of the mesh openings in each inner titanium mesh structure is larger than the maximum pore size of the mesh openings in each outer titanium mesh structure; the method for manufacturing the fuel cell comprises the following steps: One external electrode plate manufacturing step: Using diffusion welding technology, an inner titanium mesh structure is fixed on one side of each of the external electrode plates, and an external titanium mesh structure is fixed on the opposite side of the inner titanium mesh structure. The position where each of the external electrode plates is connected to the titanium wire can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. The sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the external electrode plate are stacked on one side of another titanium wire, and the sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the external electrode plate together with the external electrode plate form multiple flow channels. An internal electrode plate manufacturing step: Using diffusion welding technology, an internal titanium mesh structure is fixed to one side of each internal electrode plate, and an external titanium mesh structure is fixed to the opposite side of the internal titanium mesh structure. The connection points between each internal electrode plate and the titanium wires can establish a conductive path through at least one titanium wire and multiple auxiliary titanium wires. Sections of each titanium wire that are not fused to the internal electrode plate are stacked on one side of another titanium wire, and these sections, together with the internal electrode plate, form multiple flow channels. A catalyst layer formation step: A catalyst layer is deposited on one side of each external titanium mesh structure, each internal titanium mesh structure, and the electrode plate to which they are fixed. An assembly step: Two fixing members are mutually fixed so that multiple electrode plates, multiple internal titanium mesh structures, and multiple membrane electrode assemblies are held by the two fixing members. Each of the membrane electrode assemblies is located between the two inner titanium mesh structures.

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