Abstract: A reference electrode which is stable over a wide range of temperatures, pressures and chemical conditions is provided. The subject reference electrode according to the present invention comprises a tubular enclosure composed of quartz having a distal, closed end and a proximal, open end. An insulating ceramic rod is seemingly connected to the opening in the closed distal end of the enclosure to form micro-cracks between the ceramic rod and the quartz enclosure (called a cracked junction, CJ). The CJ gives a very tortuous path for ion conduction from inside the reference electrode (RE) to a working electrode (WE). Inside the tubular enclosure is an electrical lead (e.g., a silver wire) disposed in an electrolyte comprising a mixture of alkaline metal salts (e.g., AgCl and KCl), extending from the electrolyte upward through a sealing means at the proximal end of the quartz enclosure.

Abstract: A reference electrode which is stable over a wide range of temperatures, pressures and chemical conditions is provided. The subject reference electrode according to the present invention comprises a tubular enclosure composed of quartz having a distal, closed end and a proximal, open end. An insulating ceramic rod is seemingly connected to the opening in the closed distal end of the enclosure to form micro-cracks between the ceramic rod and the quartz enclosure (called a cracked junction, CJ). The CJ gives a very tortuous path for ion conduction from inside the reference electrode (RE) to a working electrode (WE). Inside the tubular enclosure is an electrical lead (e.g., a silver wire) disposed in an electrolyte comprising a mixture of alkaline metal salts (e.g., AgCl and KCl), extending from the electrolyte upward through a sealing means at the proximal end of the quartz enclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of electrochemically calculating the corrosion rate of a metal. The method includes electrically connecting a reference electrode to an electrometer, electrically connecting a working electrode formed of a sample metal to the electrometer, electrically connecting a counter electrode to the working electrode, submerging the reference electrode, the working electrode and the counter electrode in a molten salt at a temperature of at least 100° C. and as high as 900° C. and generating current by scanning a working electrode potential to generate a polarization curve from which the corrosion rate may be calculated.

Abstract: A neutral protic salt electrolyte and a protic-salt imbibed polymer electrolyte membrane exhibiting high ionic conductivity and thermal stability at temperatures greater than 100° C. without requiring additional humidification systems or hydrating water is disclosed. The protic salt is the neutral product of acids and bases for which the proton transfer energy lies in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 eV. A polymer electrolyte membrane having the general formula: wherein A is a repeating unit in the main chain, B is a crosslinker chain, C is an end group, YZ is a neutralized couple at chain end, Il is an ionic liquid, and NP is a nanoparticle which absorbs the protic liquid yielding membranes that combine high mechanical strength with high conductivity. The present polymer electrolyte membrane is useful in high temperature fuel cell for automotive, industrial, and mobile communication applications.

Abstract: A system and method for generating and separating gaseous fuel components, as well as the partitioning of liquid and gaseous byproducts, in the operation of a portable fuel cell device comprises: a microfluidic containment volume (140, 230); a substrate for supporting a catalytic composition (150, 215, 315) that is suitably adapted to promote hydrolysis of a substantially liquid-borne fuel precursor (330) to generate a gaseous fuel component; a liquid/gas separator (155, 220, 363) for at least partially partitioning a gaseous component from a liquid component; a fuel cell (210, 310) comprising an anode (125) and a cathode (135); and electrical connections coupled thereto to power a load (120). Various features and parameters of the present invention may be suitably adapted to optimize the gas/liquid transport and/or partition functions for any specific fuel cell design.