Abstract: An article for use at high temperatures and in corrosive environments comprising a substrate of refractory metal or alloy thereof. The substrate is coated with an interlayer followed by an optional preliminary coating and a final coating of a platinum group metal. The interlayer reduces oxidation of the substrate and prevents metallic interdiffusion between the final coating and substrate contributing both to an improved tolerance of the article to the working environment and reduced manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An air- or oxygen-breathing electrode suitable for use as a cathode in electrochemical cells, for example in low temperature ozone generation cells, comprises an insulating layer and has an improved electrochemical performance.

Abstract: A fuel cell may be purged with inert gas and/or pre-heated and/or maintained at an elevated temperature by combusting the hydrogen fuel with air and passing the combustion product gases either through the cell or through a heat exchanger for imparting heat either to the electrolyte or to the fuel gases. Preferably the combustor includes a catalyst. The hydrogen can either be taken directly from the fuel supply or the "waste" hydrogen periodically bled from the cell can be used. If the product gases are to be passed into the cell, the stoichiometry of the combustion should be controlled so that hydrogen is absent.

Abstract: An electrode for use as a cathode in a chloralkali cell or a water electrolysis cell comprises an electrically-conductive matrix having a very low metal loading surface electrocatalytic noble metal-containing deposit which may be prepared by a displacement deposition technique.