Abstract: A fuel cell utilizing parallel flow of a hydrogen stream, an oxygen stream, and an electrolyte solution with respect to the electrodes, while maintaining mechanical support within the fuel cell. The fuel cell utilizes encapsulated electrodes to maintain a high air flow rate and low pressure throughout the fuel cell. The fuel cell is also designed to maintain mechanical support within the fuel cell while the electrodes expand and contract in response to the absorption of oxygen and hydrogen. Gas is predistributed by the compression plates and electrode plates to supply the electrodes with high concentrations of oxygen from air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a vanadium-rich, multi-component reversible, electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy directly from a vanadium-reductant alloy without first obtaining pure vanadium. In one exemplification the vanadium-reductant alloy is a vanadium-aluminum alloy of low oxygen content, while in another exemplification the vanadium-reductant alloy is refined by electron beam evaporation, and in a third exemplification the vanadium-reductant alloy contains further reductants that reduce the oxygen content without adding impurities to the alloy. The vanadium-reductant alloy is directly used as a precursor in forming the electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy.