Abstract: Provided, among other things, is ion-conductive membrane assembly comprising: a porous core; and sandwiching the porous core therebetween, two ion-conductive membranes; wherein the porous core is adapted to retain an ion-conductive liquid.

Abstract: Methods for coating a metal substrate or a metal alloy with electrically conductive titania-based material. The methods produce metal components for electrochemical devices that need high electrical conductance, corrosion resistance and electrode reaction activities for long term operation at a low cost.

Abstract: A method to use a novel structured metal-ceramic composite powder to improve the surface electrical conductivity of corrosion resistant metal substrates by thermal spraying the structured powder onto a surface of a metallic substrate is disclosed. The structured powder has a metal core and is wholly or partially surrounded by an electrically conductive ceramic material such as a metal nitride material. The metal cores may have the ceramic material formed on them prior to a thermal spraying process performed in an inert atmosphere, or the thermal spraying may be performed in a reactive atmosphere such that the ceramic coating forms on the cores during the thermal spraying process and/or after deposition. The metal cores will bond conductive ceramic material onto the surface of the substrate through the thermal spray process.

Abstract: A separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell device includes a porous core with a metal layer on either side of the porous core. The metal layer has through holes formed therein such as by perforation. The metal layers are contoured to provide flow field channels, and the porous layer may have channels formed therein that are parallel to the metal layers that can be used for cooling water. A monopolar fuel stack includes twin cell units that include a center separator plate, a pair of membrane electrode assemblies, one on each side of the center separator plate, and a pair of outer plates which may have through holes formed therein, one on each side of the membrane electrode assemblies opposite the center separator plate. The outer plates cover substantially an entire electrode to which they are adjacent.

Abstract: A method is described that can be used in electrodes for electrochemical devices and includes disposing a precious metal on a top surface of a corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The precious metal can be thermally sprayed onto the surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate to produce multiple metal splats. The thermal spraying can be based on a salt solution or on a metal particle suspension. A separate bonding process can be used after the metal splats are deposited to enhance the adhesion of the metal splats to the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The surface area associated with the splats of the precious metal is less than the surface area associated with the top surface of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate. The thermal spraying rate can be controlled to achieve a desired ratio of the surface area of the metal splats to the surface area of the corrosion-resistant metal substrate.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is ion-conductive membrane assembly comprising: a porous core; and sandwiching the porous core therebetween, two ion-conductive membranes; wherein the porous core is adapted to retain an ion-conductive liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating hydrogen, the apparatus including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a catalytic material for promoting the formation of protons. The apparatus also includes a proton conductive electrolyte disposed between the first and second electrodes and a voltage source connected to the first electrode and to the second electrode. The voltage source is configured to provide a driving voltage having a base voltage and a pulsed voltage superposed on the base voltage to generate hydrogen. The apparatus has an input through which syngas or a hydrocarbon compound or both is introduced into the first electrode; and an output for discharging the generated hydrogen, the output being disposed opposite the input on an opposite side of the proton conductive electrolyte.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is ion-conductive membrane assembly comprising: a porous core; and sandwiching the porous core therebetween, two ion-conductive membranes; wherein the porous core is adapted to retain a ion-conductive liquid.

Abstract: Provided, in one embodiment, is a fuel cell interconnect comprising: a first primary conduit located at the periphery of the interconnect; a second primary conduit located at the periphery of the interconnect; a fuel cell distribution plate located at the top or bottom of the interconnect adapted to interface with a fuel cell and comprising: (i) an internal distribution conduit through the fuel cell distribution plate, and (ii) two or more second distribution conduits through the fuel cell distribution plate located peripheral to the internal distribution conduit but interior to the primary conduits, the internal and second distribution conduits adapted to convey fluid from one to the other along the top or bottom, as relevant, of the interconnect; and one or more manifold plates comprising a conduit from the first primary conduit to the internal distribution conduit and a conduit from the second primary conduit to two or more said second distribution conduits.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is a stacked reactor comprising: three or more metal layers; two or more catalyst layers sandwiched between the metal layers wherein: (a) catalyst layers comprise catalyst-coated channels formed in a suitable material with depth and width dimensions independently from 10 to 2,000 microns, or (b) surfaces of the metal layers are shaped so as to provide 40% or more surface area than would a flat surface; and sealant enclosing the channel layers in a gas-tight manner (which sealant may be contiguous with the material forming the catalyst-coated channels).

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is ion-conductive membrane assembly comprising: a porous core; and sandwiching the porous core therebetween, two ion-conductive membranes; wherein the porous core is adapted to retain a ion-conductive liquid.

Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cells made by coating a slurry of an electrolyte having a limited amount of organic material onto a carrier tape, depositing a one or two layer electrode material on the tape sufficient to support the electrolyte layer, removing the tape, screen printing a second electrode layer on the exposed surface of the electrolyte layer, and firing the layers at a temperature of 1100-1300° C. The resultant fired fuel cell can be mounted on an interconnector comprising a base plate, grooves formed in one face of the base plate, a porous conductive ceramic contact layer between the base plate and an overlying blocking layer of a porous conductive layer to provide electrical contact between the base plate and the blocking layer, or an interconnector having a fired green tape stack having conductive via contacts and air and gas flow channels formed therein. A sealing glass bonds the overlying layers to the base plate.

Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cells made by coating a slurry of an electrolyte having a limited amount of organic material onto a carrier tape, depositing a one or two layer electrode material on the tape sufficient to support the electrolyte layer, removing the tape, screen printing a second electrode layer on the exposed surface of the electrolyte layer, and firing the layers at a temperature of 1100-1300° C. The resultant fired fuel cell can be mounted on an interconnector comprising a base plate, grooves formed in one face of the base plate, a porous conductive ceramic contact layer between the base plate and an overlying blocking layer of a porous conductive layer to provide electrical contact between the base plate and the blocking layer, or an interconnector having a fired green tape stack having conductive via contacts and air and gas flow channels formed therein. A sealing glass bonds the overlying layers to the base plate.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of solid ceramic thin films in which a porous or dense supporting substrate is spray coated with an oxide powder/solid suspension to form a coated supporting substrate. The coated supporting substrate is then sintered at an elevated temperature to form a solid ceramic thin film on the supporting substrate.