Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
  • G01N27/26—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
  • G01N27/416—Systems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N27/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means
  • G01N27/26—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
  • G01N27/416—Systems
  • G01N27/4162—Systems investigating the composition of gases, by the influence exerted on ionic conductivity in a liquid
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
  • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
  • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
  • H01M8/04492—Humidity; Ambient humidity; Water content
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1007—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

• Autonomous water detection device comprising a source of hydrogen
• the field of the invention is that of energy-autonomous water-detection devices and more specifically relates to water detection devices capable of evaluating a quantity of water and not only operating in the binary mode: presence of water water or not as proposed in known water detectors.
• the majority of water detection devices are not energy independent.
• the energy supply is via a source internal to the device (batteries) or by the electrical network.
• the existing devices are not miniaturizable and require connection means that are not compatible with places that are cramped or difficult to access.
• the electrolyte is made of a porous material.
• the porous layer is provided with a coating releasing ionic species.
• This type of detector does not make it possible to evaluate the importance of the leak. There is no gradation of the signal: in the presence of water, there is a signal, while without water, there is no signal. The information is binary. In addition, once the zinc electrode consumed, the system no longer works.
• the present invention relates to a solution consisting in using the presence of water to trigger a reaction which releases hydrogen which will itself feed a fuel cell which acts as a supplier of the electrical signal.
• the advantage of such a device lies in providing a signal proportional to a quantity of water.
• the subject of the present invention is a water detection device comprising at least one fuel cell comprising a first electrode, an electrolyte layer, a second electrode and an electrical measurement device, characterized in that the first electrode of the cell is in contact with a first face of a silicon substrate porous comprising Si-H bonds, so as to release a flow of hydrogen in the presence of water.
• the device further comprises a catalyst inside the pores of the silicon substrate to promote the release of the hydrogen stream.
• the catalyst comprises a material that can release hydroyxide ions, this material can be of the KOH type.
• the water detection device comprises a first water-permeable housing comprising the porous silicon substrate.
• the water detection device comprises a second housing comprising the fuel cell, said second housing being impermeable to water and permeable to oxygen.
• the water detection device comprises a set of elementary cells, each elementary cell comprising at least one elementary fuel cell and a porous elemental silicon substrate.
• the water detection device comprises a set of elementary cells comprising porous silicon substrates whose dimensions perpendicular to the plane of the electrodes are distributed in a gradient so as to be able to detect different elementary levels of silicon. water.
• the water device comprises a common electrolyte layer, first electrodes and discontinuous second electrodes on either side of the electrolyte material layer and a common porous silicon substrate.
• the common electrolyte layer comprises proton-impermeable insulating transverse zones so as to partition the latter inside the elementary cells.
• the water detection device comprises a matrix arrangement of elementary cells for detecting water.
• the invention also relates to a device for mapping aqueous zones comprising a water detection device according to the invention equipped with a device for electrical matrix measurements.
• the invention further relates to a fingerprint recognition device characterized in that it comprises a device for mapping aqueous areas according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates the fuel cell principle used in the present invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates a first variant of a water detection device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates a second variant of a water detection device according to the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates a third variant of a water detection device according to the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates a mode of improvement of the variant illustrated in FIG. 4
• FIG. 6 illustrates a water detection device according to the invention comprising elementary detection cells
• FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate a device for mapping aqueous zones according to the invention that can advantageously be used in a fingerprint identification device.
• FIG. 1 An anode electrode, permeable to hydrogen is the seat of the following reaction:
• An electrolytic material ensures the transport of protons to a cathode seat of the following reaction by supply of oxygen present in the air and supply of electrons:
• the detector In the presence of a given volume of water, the detector generates a volume of hydrogen proportional to the volume of water. The detector simultaneously generates a signal of intensity proportional to the volume of hydrogen.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a first variant of a water detector according to the invention.
• the detector comprises a substrate 1 made of porous silicon.
• This porous silicon comprises Si-H type bonds.
• the pores of the porous silicon are through.
• the pores of the silicon may comprise a catalyst that is not represented and may consist of a coating that releases hydroxide ions in the presence of water, typically it may be potassium hydroxide.
• the catalyst may also be contained in the aqueous solution to be detected.
• the hydrogen migrates through the pores of the porous silicon to arrive at the electrode 2.
• the electrode 2 corresponds to an active electrode, electronically conductive and active with respect to the reaction:
• Layer 3 is a layer providing an electrolyte function, it is advantageously a proton-conducting membrane.
• the electrode 4 is an electron conductive electrode and which catalyzes the reaction: l / 20 2 + 2e ⁇ + 2H + ⁇ H 2 0
• the battery can then supply an electrical measurement device 5 that can advantageously integrate an alarm or action device.
• the device 5 may comprise a controller, which makes it possible to set the operating voltage and an alarm (audible or visual) and / or an actuator.
• a capacitive system or batteries so as to store the energy supplied by the battery, in order to supply the alarm or the actuator.
• the controller can first charge the battery, or the capacity, and then analyze the variation of the intensity produced by the battery as a function of time. The intensity being correlated to the flow of hydrogen, it allows to go back to the flow of water.
• FIG 3 illustrates a second variant of the invention in which the detector is integrated in a first housing 6 permeable to water.
• the hydrogen is naturally directed towards the electrode 2 in the presence of water.
• the hydrogen formed is discharged via the sealed housing.
• the housing 8 may also be a porous hydrophobic coating.
• the housing 6 and the porous silicon are integral. Once the porous silicon has been consumed, the system can be recharged by disconnecting the assembly 1 + 6 at the fasteners 14 provided for this purpose and by connecting a new assembly 1 + 6.
• the housing 6 can also be a sealed housing provided with a check valve.
• watertight return 7 as illustrated in a third variant shown in Figure 4, which allows the liquid water to pass, but does not let hydrogen out.
• the non-return valve 7 can also be controlled by the actuator 5 in advance, via a connection 15.
• the detection device comprises a plurality of elementary cells.
• FIG. 6 is thus represented by way of example a set of three cells Ci, C 2 , C 3 comprising fuel cells produced via a common electrolyte layer. Discontinuous electrodes 2 ; 2 2 , 2 3 are provided for this purpose as well as discontinuous electrodes 4-i, 4 2 , 4 3 .
• the detector can be used to evaluate, for example, a water level as shown in FIG. 6. If the water level is between a level a and a level b, there is the appearance of a difference of U potential across the terminals of the cell 1 and current generation I which generates an action 1 (or a signal 1).
• the cell C 2 is activated and generates the signal 2 / action 2 in parallel with the cell Ci also activated.
• the cell C 3 is activated and generates the signal 3 / action 3, in parallel of the cells Ci and C 2 also activated, ... etc .... up to n cells (no shown).
• the system 10 thus makes it possible to follow the dynamics of evolution of the water level.
• the detection system comprises a plurality of elementary cells including matrix-organized fuel cells. This system allows the detection of a "picture" of water: it can be used for example in the context of fingerprint detection.
• FIG. 7a shows a top view of the device
• Figure 7b showing a schematic view highlighting the matrix arrangement and the processing circuits.
• FIG. 7a shows, at a line of the matrix arrangement, the common electrolyte layer 3 comprising ionic non-conductive zones 9 enabling the elementary cells to be sealed from one another.
• a set of electrodes 2-n, .., 2 N and electrodes 4 ; ..., 4 ⁇ make it possible to make the fuel cells of the first line of elementary cells Cn, ..., Ci N of the detector.
• the membrane may be discontinuous, or made non-ionic conductive at the zones 9.
• the lateral dimension of a stack is between 10 nm and 10 cm.
• the size of a stack is between 0.1 ⁇ and ⁇ ⁇ .
• the space between the cells is preferably between 0.1 and 50 ⁇ m.
• the cells in contact with the (or aqueous) water zones are activated.
• activated is meant that there is a potential difference U between 0 and 1 .1 V at the terminals of the cell, preferably between 0.5 and 1 .1 V, and generation of a current I.
• the reading of the activated cells is done via a matrix addressing.
• the circuit 1 2 allows the selection of the column electrode, the circuit 1 3 allows the selection of the line electrode.
• the information U makes it possible to know if the cell is in contact with water and therefore to define the water mapping of the object in contact with the detector.
• the information I makes it possible to go back to the quantity of water.
• the electrodes consist of an electronically conductive and catalytic material. They consist of platinum Pt, or a platinum-based alloy, for example platinum / ruthenium, palladium or gold, carbon or an assembly of the aforementioned elements.
• the components of the electrodes 2 may be different or identical to the components of the electrodes 4.
• Electrolyte 3 is a proton conductive compound. This compound may be a fluorocarbon polymer functionalized with acid groups of -COOH, -SO 3 H or -PO (OH) 2 type . The compound may also be a carbon polymer functionalized with the aforementioned acid groups.
• the electrolyte 3 is preferably Nafion® or another polymer derived from Nafion®. The most currently used material for the ion exchange membrane is indeed the Nafion manufactured by the company Dupont de Nemours.
• the thickness of electrolyte separating the first and second electrodes is between 0.1 ⁇ and 100 ⁇ and more particularly between 1 nm to 1000 nm.
• a hydrogenation can be advantageously carried out by electrochemical treatment with an acid of a doped silicon substrate.
• the pore size is preferably between 1 nm and 100 nm.
• the material releasing hydroxide ions in contact with water is integrated in the porous silicon 1. It can also be a coating releasing hydroxide ions, located in the housing 6.
• the battery or fuel cells in the presence of water, is or are active (s): the voltage of the battery or batteries is between 0 and 1 .1 V.
• the voltage is between 1 .1 and 0.4V.
• a voltage of between 0 and 1 V is applied and preferably at a voltage of between 0 and 0.5 V.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Fuel Cell (AREA)
• Inert Electrodes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2010
  • 2010-01-26 FR FR1000284A patent/FR2955665B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2011
  • 2011-01-20 CN CN2011800149580A patent/CN102812352A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-01-20 US US13/575,282 patent/US20120292183A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-01-20 JP JP2012550396A patent/JP2013519072A/ja active Pending
  • 2011-01-20 WO PCT/EP2011/050752 patent/WO2011092105A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-01-20 RU RU2012136438/28A patent/RU2012136438A/ru unknown
  • 2011-01-20 IN IN6599DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN06599A/en unknown
  • 2011-01-20 BR BR112012018550A patent/BR112012018550A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2011-01-20 EP EP11701078A patent/EP2529209A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-01-20 KR KR1020127019828A patent/KR20120114323A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

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