Abstract: The present invention provides porous mineral oxide beads which have large pore volumes and enhanced stability. The beads are based on a tetravalent metal oxide, such as zirconia, titania or hafnia. These highly porous beads are produced from a mixture of tetravalent mineral oxides, mineral pore inducing agents which are oxides or salts of trivalent metals, and optional binders. The porous mineral beads can be filled with a polymer gel and used for adsorption and chromatography applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides porous mineral oxide beads which have large pore volumes and enhanced stability. The beads are based on a tetravalent metal oxide, such as zirconia, titania or hafnia. These highly porous beads are produced from a mixture of tetravalent mineral oxides, mineral pore inducing agents which are oxides or salts of trivalent metals, and optional binders. The porous mineral beads can be filled with a polymer gel and used for adsorption and chromatography applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing pieces of solid electrolyte based on stabilized zircon having an improved conductivity due to the addition of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. According to the process, an alcoholic solution is prepared of a salt of zirconium, a salt of a metal stabilizing zircon such as yttrium and a salt of aluminium; from this solution is formed a coprecipitate of hydroxide of zirconium, hydroxide of said metal and hydroxide of aluminium; the precipitate is washed by means of a hydrophilic solvent to eliminate the traces of water, then is dried and calcined in air; a piece of solid electrolyte is then formed by compression and sintering from the powder obtained.The invention is applicable to the production of solid electrolytes for cell for electrolysis of water vapor or for fuel cell.

Abstract: Process for the production of a ceramic member having inclusions of electrically conductive material flush with its surface, wherein it comprises depositing on the bottom of a mould a small number of particles of said conductive material, placing above said particles the ceramic powder and compressing together the aggregate formed by the powder and the particles, followed by fritting at a temperature below the melting temperature of the conductive material.Cathode--solid electrolyte assembly obtained by using the above process.

Abstract: The cell comprises a structure of superposed film layers with at least two metallic elements insulated from each other for the supply of current to a cathode and to an anode. The cathode is formed by a porous cermet substrate coated with a thin film of solid electrolyte which consists of a mixture of refractory oxides in solid solution and which is in turn coated with a porous deposit constituting the anode. Current drainage between the metallic elements and the cathode and the anode is obtained on each side of the solid electrolyte by means of thicknesses of a conductive sponge.