Abstract: An electronically conducting fuel cell component is composed of a porous metal flow field, an intermediate layer bonded directly to the flow field and an electrode bonded directly to the intermediate layer. The direct bonding eliminates the need for tie rods or other mechanical pressure to maintain the electrical contact of the fuel cell component layers.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A porous gas diffusion electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrode contains an electrocatalyst, a polymer electrolyte and nanosized pores. The pores are formed using nanosized pore-formers. The pore-former is applied to a substrate along with a polymer electrolyte and an electrocatalyst and the resulting structure is treated to remove the pore-former.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A porous gas diffusion electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrode contains an electrocatalyst, a polymer electrolyte and nanosized pores. The pores are formed using nanosized pore-formers. The pore-former is applied to a substrate along with a polymer electrolyte and an electrocatalyst and the resulting structure is treated to remove the pore-former.

Abstract: An electronically conducting fuel cell component is composed of a porous metal flow field, an intermediate layer bonded directly to the flow field and an electrode bonded directly to the intermediate layer. The direct bonding eliminates the need for tie rods or other mechanical pressure to maintain the electrical contact of the fuel cell component layers.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell includes an anode with a major portion of active material, a cathode including MnO.sub.2 doped with bismuth, and a separator between the cathode and anode which substantially prevents bismuth from migrating from the cathode to the anode. The rechargeable battery cell has a high cycle life and does not contain toxic compounds found in conventional rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A method of making a rechargeable battery electrode material containing manganese oxide is provided. The method includes preparing an aqueous solution of manganese nitrate and dissolving bismuth nitrate into the solution. The mixture is heated to evaporate the water contained in the mixture and is further heated to facilitate decomposition of the nitrates in the mixture to form a compound containing manganese oxide and bismuth oxide. The compound is maintained at a temperature of between about 200 to 300 degrees Celsius for an additional 12 hours. Thereafter, the compound is cooled and ground to a desired particle size for use as a rechargeable battery electrode material. The compound may alto be mixed with commercially prepared electrolytic or chemical manganese dioxide to obtain a highly rechargeable battery electrode material. A related battery cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photocell device for evolving hydrogen and oxygen from water using solar radiation is formed with a plurality of p-n junctions. A transparent ohmic window is disposed at the p-n junctions to avoid lattice mismatch and to provide maximized equal current densities in each layer of the plurality of p-n cells.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell with oppositely charged porous electrodes and a continuous electrolyte layer therebetween formed of a porous non-electrically conducting binder containing a carbonate salt. The electrolyte layer is formed by suspending the porous binder powder in a dielectric liquid vehicle and contacting it with one of the fuel cell electrodes. An electric field is applied between the electrode and a spaced counter-electrode in the suspension to cause electrophoretic deposition of the powder in a dense binder layer, adhered to and supported by the electrode. The binder layer-one electrode is assembled into a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as by affixing the binder layer side to an oppositely charged electrode plate, and incorporating the combination into a fuel cell.