Abstract: An ion-conducting membrane including a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer includes a perfluorosulphonic acid polymer and the second layer includes a sulphonated hydrocarbon polymer, characterised in that the ion-conducting membrane has a total thickness of from 5 ?m to 50 ?m and the second layer has a total thickness of 2 ?m or less is disclosed.

Abstract: A catalytic material includes (i) a support material and (ii) a thin film catalyst coating having an inner face adjacent to the support material and an outer face, the thin film catalyst coating having a mean thickness of ?8 nm, and wherein at least 40% of the support material surface area is covered by the thin film catalyst coating; and wherein the thin film catalyst coating includes a first metal and one or more second metals, and wherein the atomic percentage of first metal in the thin film catalyst coating is not uniform through the thickness of the thin film catalyst coating.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion comprising one or more proton-conducting polymer materials in a liquid medium, and an electrocatalyst ink comprising one or more electrocatalyst materials and one or more proton-conducting polymer materials in a liquid medium are disclosed. The polymer dispersion and the electrocatalyst ink further comprise a protic acid. Electrocatalyst layers, gas diffusion electrodes, catalyzed membranes and membrane electrode assemblies prepared using the dispersion and/or the ink are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalytic material includes (i) a support material and (ii) a thin film catalyst coating having an inner face adjacent to the support material and an outer face, the thin film catalyst coating having a mean thickness of ?8 nm, and wherein at least 40% of the support material surface area is covered by the thin film catalyst coating; and wherein the thin film catalyst coating includes a first metal and one or more second metals, and wherein the atomic percentage of first metal in the thin film catalyst coating is not uniform through the thickness of the thin film catalyst coating.

Abstract: An ion-conducting membrane including a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer includes a perfluorosulphonic acid polymer and the second layer includes a sulphonated hydrocarbon polymer, characterised in that the ion-conducting membrane has a total thickness of from 5 ?m to 50 ?m and the second layer has a total thickness of 2 ?m or less is disclosed.

Abstract: A reinforced membrane comprises: (I) a planar reinforcing component made from metal, carbon, polymer or a composite thereof, and (ii) an ion-conducting material, wherein the planar reinforcing component is a cellular structure, comprising a plurality of discrete cells, wherein the wall of each cell extends through the thickness of the component such that the cell wall is impermeable to the proton-conducting material and wherein the proton-conducting material fills the cells of the planar reinforcing component. Such a membrane is of use in a fuel cell or an electrolyser.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen with reforming catalysts. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may be an oxidic support having a ceria and zirconia promoter, or may include a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also include at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones, where upstream catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone and downstream catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in their respective reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion comprising one or more proton-conducting polymer materials in a liquid medium, and an electrocatalyst ink comprising one or more electrocatalyst materials and one or more proton-conducting polymer materials in a liquid medium are disclosed. The polymer dispersion and the electrocatalyst ink further comprise a protic acid. Electrocatalyst layers, gas diffusion electrodes, catalysed membranes and membrane electrode assemblies prepared using the dispersion and/or the ink are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable for the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of hydrocarbons comprises at least one first metal and at least one second metal bound to a support material. The at least one first metal comprises at least one transition metal, suitably a platinum group metal. The support material is provided with an overlayer such that acidic sites on the support material are substantially blocked. In a preferred embodiment the catalyst is also substantially chloride free. Method of preparing catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: A substrate, such as a plate or catalyst monolith, may be coated with a metal oxide, particularly with a zeolite, by treating the substrate with a polyectrolyte to form a coating, and then depositing the coating of metal oxide from an aqueous slurry. A continuous coating, which may incorporate many layers, can easily be formed. In the examples polyacrylamide is used as polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable for the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation of hydrocarbons comprises at least one first metal and at least one second metal bound to a support material. The at least one first metal comprises at least one transition metal, suitably a platinum group metal. The support material is provided with an overlayer such that acidic sites on the support material are substantially blocked. In a preferred embodiment the catalyst is also substantially chloride free. Method of preparing catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A substantially complete coating of a zeolite onto a material such as catalyst particles can be achieved by treating the material prior to or simultaneously with zeolite formation, with a polyelectrolye. Copper catalyst systems show good hydrogen storage while blocking access of hydrocarbons to the catalyst.